"Put a chink"

[Diego]

Hi!

Could anyone please tell me the meaning of the expression "to put a chink" and its translation into spanish or french? thank you

[Latinus]

chink (n.)

A narrow opening, such as a crack or fissure.

"To put a chink in smthg" signifie simplement parvenir à entamer (légèrement) un objet.

Par contre j'ai trouvé d'autres textes où l'expression est utilisée, mais la définition qui est donné par Blue Apple semble ne pas trop correspondre

Pourrais-tu donner le contexte?

[kyliane]

Il faudrait vraiment le contexte car en argot américain chink veut dire chinois !!!!

[Olivier]

chink (n.)
A narrow opening, such as a crack or fissure.
"To put a chink in smthg" signifie simplement parvenir à entamer (légèrement) un objet.

Yes but I believe the phrase means finding a weakness in some kind of protection, something like "le défaut de la cuirasse". Could a native speaker please confirm the meaning of that phrase?
-- Olivier

[Latinus]

chink (n.)
A narrow opening, such as a crack or fissure.
"To put a chink in smthg" signifie simplement parvenir à entamer (légèrement) un objet.

Yes but I believe the phrase means finding a weakness in some kind of protection, something like "le défaut de la cuirasse". Could a native speaker please confirm the meaning of that phrase?
-- Olivier

I'm not a native speaker... but I can confirm
Just take a look at : this

...Only Arkansas managed to put a chink in the Gators' armor, winning...

... Only Honda-mounted Miguel Duhamel was able to put a chink in Mladin's armor,
leading for a short time before Mladin re-took the lead for good. ...

[Parasha]

chink (n.)
A narrow opening, such as a crack or fissure.
"To put a chink in smthg" signifie simplement parvenir à entamer (légèrement) un objet.

Yes but I believe the phrase means finding a weakness in some kind of protection, something like "le défaut de la cuirasse". Could a native speaker please confirm the meaning of that phrase?
-- Olivier

I'd say that yes, it's more often than not used as "to put a chink in the armour [of someone or something]". It's not as much finding a weakness in protection as it is making a little bit of progress toward bringing down a formidable opponent.

And it has nothing to do with the Chinese.