make amends Compensate someone for a grievance or injury, as in They must make amends for the harm they’ve caused you. This expression was first recorded in 1330.
make a monkey out of → See under MAKE A FOOL OF.
make a mountain out of a molehill Exaggerate trifling difficulties, as in If you forgot your racket you can borrow one—don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. This expression, alluding to the barely raised tunnels created by moles, was first recorded in John Fox’s The Book of Martyrs (1570).
make a name for oneself Achieve distinction, become prominent or well known, as in Martha is making a name for herself as an excellent chef. The earliest recorded use of this term was in John Wycliffe’s followers’ translation of the Bible (II Samuel 8:13): “Forsooth David made to him a name.” Also see MAKE ONE’S MARK.
make an appearance → See PUT IN AN APPEARANCE.
make an appointment 1. Assign someone to a particular office or position, as in When the head of White House security resigned, it was up to the President to make an appointment. [Mid-1800s] 2. Schedule a meeting with someone, as in Do I need to make another appointment with the doctor? [Mid-1700s]
make an ass of → See MAKE A FOOL OF.
make an end of → See PUT AN END TO.
make an example of Punish someone so as to be a warning to others, as in The teacher made an example of the boy she caught cheating, or The judge imposed a tough sentence to make an example of the car thieves. This usage is first recorded in John Wycliffe’s followers’ translation of the Bible (c. 1382).
make an exception Exempt someone or something from a general rule or practice, as in Because it’s your birthday, I’ll make an exception and let you stay up as late as you want. This expression was first recorded about 1391.
make an exhibition of oneself Show off or otherwise embarrass oneself in public, as in When Mike has too much to drink he’s apt to make an exhibition of himself. The first recorded use of this term was in Charles Dickens’s A Child’s History of England (1853).
make a night of it → See under MAKE A DAY OF IT.
make an impression Produce a strong effect on one. This phrase is often qualified with an adjective such as good, bad, strong, or the like. For example, He tried to make a good impression on his girlfriend’s parents, or Be careful or you’ll make a bad impression on the jury, or You made quite an impression with that speech. [Mid-1600s]
make an issue of Treat something too seriously, as though it were a problem; make a fuss over. For example, We can’t make an issue of her defection; she may well come back. [1920s] Also see HAVE ISSUES.
make a note of Write down so as to remember; also, remember. For example, I’ll make a note of the fact that the tires are low. Shakespeare used this term in slightly different form in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (2:7): “Go with me to my chamber to take a note of what I stand in need.”
make a nuisance of oneself Bother or annoy others, as in That child is making a nuisance of himself.
make a pass at 1. Flirt or make advances to someone, especially of a sexual nature, as in “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses” (Dorothy Parker, Not So Deep As A Well, 1936). [1920s] 2. Also, take a pass at. Make an attempt, as in I’ve made a pass at opening it but had no luck, or Jake, will you take a pass at changing the oil? This usage employs pass in the sense of a “jab” or “poke.” [Colloquial; 1900s] Also see MAKE A STAB AT.
make a pig of oneself Overeat, as in I really made a pig of myself at the buffet. [Colloquial; 1940s] Also see PIG OUT.
make a pile → See MAKE A BUNDLE.
make a pitch for Say or do something in support of someone or something, as in That announcer really made a pitch for Sunday’s concert, or Her agent’s been making a pitch for her books all over town. This expression originally alluded to an inflated sales talk that was “pitched” (in the sense of “thrown”) at the listener. [Slang; late 1800s]
make a play for Try to attract someone’s interest, especially romantic interest. For example, Bill has been making a play for Anne, but so far it hasn’t gotten him anywhere. [Slang; c. 1900]
make a point of Treat something as important or essential, as in She made a point of thanking everyone in the department for their efforts. This expression uses point in the sense of “an objective or purpose.” [Late 1700s] Also see MAKE ONE’S POINT.
make a practice of Habitually do something, as in Bill makes a practice of checking the oil and gas before every long trip. [c. 1900]
make a production of Create a fuss, perform in an unnecessarily complicated fashion. For example, Mary always makes a production out of Thanksgiving dinner. [Mid-1900s]
make arrangements for Plan or prepare for someone or something, as in Who is making all the arrangements for our sales meeting? This expression employs arrangements in the sense of “measures or preparations for a particular purpose,” a usage dating from the late 1700s.
make a run for → See MAKE A BREAK FOR.
make a scene Also, create a scene; make an uproar. Make a public disturbance or excited emotional display. For example, Joan made a scene when the restaurant lost her dinner reservation, or Ted made an uproar over losing his luggage. Make a scene was first recorded in 1831; the variant employs uproar in the sense of “a noisy commotion,” a usage first recorded in 1548.
make as if Also, make as though; make like. Behave as if, pretend that. For example, Jean made as if she really liked the soup, or Dad made as though he had not heard them, or She makes like she’s a really important person. The first two usages date from the early 1500s; the third, a colloquialism, is often used with a noun and dates from the late 1800s.
make a silk purse → See CAN’T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW’S EAR.
make a stab at Also, take a stab at. Try to do something, as in I don’t know the answer but I’ll make a stab at it. This expression derives from stab in the sense of “a vigorous thrust.” [Late 1800s] Also see MAKE A PASS AT, def. 2.
make a stand Hold firm against something or someone, as in The government was determined to make a stand against all forms of terrorism. This idiom transfers the early meaning of holding ground against an enemy to other issues. [c. 1600]
make a statement Create a certain impression; communicate an idea or mood without using words. For example, The furnishings here make a statement about the company. [Mid-1900s]
make a stink Also, raise a stink. Create a great fuss; complain, criticize, or otherwise make trouble about something. For example, They promised to fix the printer today; you needn’t make a stink about it, or The parents were raising a stink about the principal’s new rules. This idiom transfers an offensive odor to a public fuss. [Mid-1800s] Also see MAKE A SCENE.
make a virtue of necessity Do the best one can under given circumstances, as in Since he can’t break the contract, Bill’s making a virtue of necessity. This expression first appeared in English in Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale: “Then is it wisdom, as it thinketh me, to make virtue of necessity.” Also see MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
make away with 1. Carry off, steal, as in The burglars made away with all their jewelry. [Late 1600s] 2. Use up, consume, as in The boys made away with all the sandwiches. This usage was first recorded in 1843. 3. Kill, destroy, as in We decided to make away with the old horse. [c. 1500] Also see DO AWAY WITH, def. 2.
make bail Put up security as an assurance that someone released from prison will appear for trial, as in He didn’t think he could make bail for his brother. The use of bail for “security” was first recorded in 1495.
make believe Pretend, as in Let’s make believe we’re elves. This expression in effect means making oneself believe in an illusion. [Early 1700s]
make bold Also, make so bold as. Dare, presume, take the liberty of doing something, as in Let me make bold and ask you to back me as a member, or I will not make so bold as to criticize a respected scholar. This expression was frequently used by Shakespeare but is heard less often today. [Late 1500s]
make book Accept bets on a race, game, or contest, as in No one’s making book on the local team. This expression uses book in the sense of “a record of the bets made by different individuals.” [Mid-1800s]
make bricks without straw Perform a task without essential materials or means, as in Writing a report without the current data is making bricks without straw. This expression alludes to straw as a material necessary in early brick manufacturing. [Early 1600s]
make capital out of Use profitably, turn to account, as in The challengers made capital out of the President’s signing a bill that increased taxes. This expression, first recorded in 1855, uses capital in the sense of “material wealth used to create more wealth.”
make conversation Engage someone in talking purely for its own sake, make small talk, as in She had a real talent for making conversation with strangers. [c. 1920]
make demands on Urgently require something of someone, as in Her mother’s illness has made considerable demands on her time. [Late 1300s]
make do Get along with the means available, especially insufficient means. For example, We’ll just have to make do with one potato apiece. [c. 1900]
make ends meet Manage so that one’s financial means are enough for one’s needs, as in On that salary Enid had trouble making ends meet. This expression originated as make both ends meet, a translation from the French joindre les deux bouts (by John Clarke, 1639). The ends, it is assumed, allude to the sum total of income and expenditures. However, naval surgeon and novelist Tobias Smollett had it as “make the two ends of the year meet” (Roderick Random, 1748), thought to go back to the common practice of splicing rope ends together in order to cut shipboard expenses.
make eyes at Ogle, flirt with, as in To her sister’s disgust, she was always making eyes at the boys. Although slightly different versions, such as throw the eye at, are much older, this precise locution was first recorded in William Makepeace Thackeray’s Henry Esmond (1852): “She used to make eyes at the Duke of Marlborough.” See also GIVE SOMEONE THE ONCE-OVER.
make fast work of → See MAKE SHORT WORK OF.
make for 1. Have or cause to have a particular effect; also, help promote or further. For example, That letter of yours will make for hard feelings in the family, or This system makes for better communication. [Early 1500s] 2. Go toward, as in They turned around and made for home. This usage originated in the late 1500s, but was not widely used until the 1800s. Also see MADE FOR.
make free with Take liberties with, treat very familiarly, as in That reporter makes free with the truth, or It’s best not to make free with one’s employees. This term was first recorded in 1714.
make friends Form a friendship, foster cordial feelings, as in I hope Brian will soon make friends at school, or She’s done a good job of making friends with influential reporters. [c. 1600]
make fun of Also, poke fun at; make sport of. Mock, ridicule, as in The girls made fun of Mary’s shoes, or They poked fun at Willie’s haircut, or I wish you wouldn’t make sport of the new boy. The first term dates from the early 1700s, the second from the mid-1800s, and the third from the early 1500s.
make good 1. Carry out successfully, make sure of, as in He made good his escape. This usage was first recorded in 1606. 2. Fulfill, as in She made good her promise. This usage was first recorded in Miles Coverdale’s 1535 translation of the Bible (II Chronicles 6:16): “Make good unto my father, David ... that which thou hast promised him.” 3. Compensate for, make up for, as in They made good the loss. This usage first appeared in William Langland’s Piers Ploughman (1377). 4. Succeed, as in He made good as a writer. [c. 1900]
make good time Travel far in a short time, as in We made good time, getting to Vermont in only four hours. [Late 1800s]
make great strides Advance considerably, make good progress, as in He made great strides in his study of Latin. Since its earliest recorded use in 1600, this expression has taken a number of forms—make a wide stride, take strides, make rapid strides. All of them transfer a long walking step to other kinds of progress.
make haste Also, make it snappy. Hurry up, move or act quickly, as in If you don’t make haste we’ll be late, or Make it snappy, kids. The first expression was first recorded in Miles Coverdale’s 1535 translation of the Bible (Psalms 39:13): “Make haste, O Lord, to help me.” The variant dates from the early 1900s and uses snappy in the sense of “resembling a sudden jerk.” The oxymoron make haste slowly, dating from the mid-1700s, is a translation of the Latin festina lente. It is used either ironically, to slow someone down (as in You’ll do better if you make haste slowly), or to comment sarcastically on a lack of progress (as in So far the committee has been making haste slowly).
make hay while the sun shines Take advantage of favorable circumstances, as in Car sales have finally improved so we’re making hay while the sun shines. This expression alludes to optimum dry weather for cutting grass. [Early 1500s]
make head or tail of → See CAN’T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF.
make headway Advance, make progress, as in We haven’t made any headway with this project. This expression, first recorded in 1887, uses headway in the nautical sense of “a vessel’s forward movement.”
make heavy weather → See under HEAVY GOING.
make history Do something memorable or spectacular enough to influence the course of history, as in That first space flight made history. [Mid-1800s]
make inroads into Encroach on, advance at another’s expense, as in The Japanese rapidly made inroads into the computer-chip market. The noun inroad originally meant “an invasion.” [Late 1600s]
make it 1. Also, make it to. Reach a certain point or goal, as in Do you think she’ll make it to graduation? or We finally made it to Chicago. [c. 1900] 2. Also, make it big. Be highly successful; also, win acceptance. For example, When he won the prize he realized he’d finally made it, or Jane longed to make it with the crowd from Society Hill. [Colloquial; mid-1900s] Also see HIT IT BIG. 3. Also, make it with. Have sexual intercourse, as in Tom bragged that he’d made it with Sue last night. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
make it hot for Cause trouble or discomfort for someone, as in They made it so hot for Larry that he had to resign, or The police were making it hot for shoplifters. This seemingly modern idiom was first recorded in 1618.
make it one’s business Undertake a self-appointed task, as in I’ll make it my business to find out their plans. This phrase was first recorded in 1642.
make it snappy → See MAKE HASTE.
make it up → See under MAKE UP.
make it with → See MAKE IT, def. 3.
make light of Also, make little of. Treat as unimportant, as in He made light of his allergies, or She made little of the fact that she’d won. The first term, which uses light in the sense of “trivial,” was first recorded in William Tyndale’s 1526 Bible translation (Matthew 22:5), in the parable of the wedding feast, where the invited guests reject the king’s invitation: “They made light of it and went their ways.” The variant dates from the early 1800s. For an antonym, see MAKE MUCH OF.
make like → See MAKE AS IF.
make little of → See MAKE LIGHT OF.
make love 1. Court, engage in amorous caressing, as in Romance was in the air, and she hoped he would make love to her. [Late 1500s] 2. Have sexual intercourse, as in They’d been making love well before they married. This usage today is the more common of the two. [Mid-1900s]
make mincemeat of Also, make hamburger of. Thrash, beat decisively, as in That bully will make mincemeat of my son, or The other team will make hamburger out of us. This idiom alludes to finely chopping up meat. The first term dates from about 1700, the variant from the first half of the 1900s.
make mischief Cause trouble, as in Don’t listen to her gossip—she’s just trying to make mischief. This idiom was first recorded in 1884, but the related noun mischief-maker, a person who causes trouble especially by tale-bearing, dates from about 1700.
make much of Treat
or consider as very important; also, pay someone a lot of favorable attention. For example, Bill made much of the fact that he’d been to Europe three times, or Whenever Alice came home for a visit they made much of her. [c. 1300]
make my day → See MAKE ONE’S DAY.
make nice Behave amiably, especially to appease someone or win someone over. For example, Much of the job consists of making nice to irate clients. [Slang, second half of 1900s]
make no bones about Act or speak frankly about something, without hesitation or evasion. For example, Tom made no bones about wanting to be promoted, or Make no bones about it—she’s very talented. Versions of this expression date back to the mid-1400s and the precise allusion is no longer known. Some believe it meant a boneless stew or soup that one could eat without hesitation; others relate it to dice, originally made from bones, that were thrown without hesitation or fuss.
make no difference → See MAKE A DIFFERENCE, def. 3.
make no mistake Have no doubt, certainly, as in Make no mistake—I’ll vote Republican no matter who runs. [Mid-1800s] Also see GET SOMEONE WRONG.
make nothing of 1. Regard as unimportant, make light of, as in He made nothing of walking three miles to buy a newspaper. This expression was first recorded in 1632. 2. can make nothing of. Fail to accomplish, understand, or solve something, as in I could make nothing of that long speech. [Late 1600s]
make off 1. Depart in haste, run away, as in The cat took one look at Richard and made off. [c. 1700] 2. make off with. Take something away; also, steal something, as in I can’t write it down; Tom made off with my pen, or The burglars made off with the stereo and computer as well as jewelry. [Early 1800s]
make one’s bed and lie in it Suffer the consequences of one’s actions. For example, It’s unfortunate that it turned out badly, but Sara made her bed and now she must lie in it. The earliest English citation for this oft-repeated proverb is in Gabriel Harvey’s Marginalia (c. 1590): “Let them ... go to their bed, as themselves shall make it.” The idiom alludes to times when a permanent bed was a luxury, and most people had to stuff a sack with straw every night for use as a bed. There are equivalents in French, German, Danish, and many other languages.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Page 76
