2
general::
make sth out
[ M ]
to write all the necessary information on an official document
• I made a cheque out for £20 to 'Henry's Supermarket'., make off with sth
informal
to steal something
• Somebody broke into the shop and made off with several TVs and videos., make sth over to sb
[ M ]
to give something, such as money or land, to someone so that they legally own it
• Just before her death, she had made over $100 000 to her new husband., make sth up
[ M ] PREPARE
2. to prepare or arrange something by putting different things together
• Could you make up a list of all the things that need to be done?
• He asked the man behind the counter to make up a box with a mixed selection of chocolates.
• The maid will make up your room later., make up
( also make it up )
to forgive someone and be friendly with them again after an argument or disagreement
• They kissed and made up, as usual.
• We often quarrel but we always make it up soon after., make sth up
[ M ] PREPARE
6. UK If you make up a fire, you prepare it or put more wood or coal on it when it is burning. , make out
US informal SUCCEED
1. to deal with a situation, usually in a successful way
• How is Frances making out in her new job?
• The business made out better than expected in 1992 and profits were slightly up., make sth up
[ M ] COMPLETE
7. to make an amount of something complete or correct
• I have £20 000 and I need £25 000 but my parents have promised to make up the difference.
• UK: I suspect we were only invited to make up numbers (= to provide enough people)., make out
US informal HAVE SEX
2. to kiss and touch in a sexual way, or to succeed in having sex with someone
• Boys at that age are only interested in making out with girls., make for somewhere/sth
to go in the direction of a place or thing
• They made for the centre of town., make out sth
informal
to state, usually falsely, that something is true
• [ R + to infinitive ]: He made himself out to be a millionaire.
• [ + to be ]: The British weather is not always as bad as it is made out to be.
• [ + ( that ) ]: He made out (that) he had been living in Paris all year., make sth into sth
to change something into something else
• They've made the spare room into an office., make sth up
[ M ] PREPARE
5. If you make up a bed for someone, you put sheets and covers on a bed so that they have a place to sleep in your home. , make for sth
to result in or make possible
• Having faster computers would make for a more efficient system., make off
informal
to leave quickly, usually in order to escape
• The burglars made off before the police arrived., make sth up
[ M ] INVENT
1. to invent something, such as an excuse or a story, often in order to deceive
• I made up an excuse about having to look after the kids.
• My dad was always really good at making up stories., make sth/sb out
[ M ]
to see, hear or understand something or someone with difficulty
• The numbers are too small - I can't make them out at all.
• I can't make out your writing.
• She's a strange person - I can't make her out at all.
• [ + question word ]: Nobody can make out why you should have been attacked., make sth up
[ M ] REPLACE
8. to reduce or replace something, usually an amount of time or work, that has been lost
• We're hoping to make up time on the return journey by not stopping at night.
• You'll have to make up the work you've missed while you were away., make (sb/sth) up
[ M ]
to put make-up on your face, or on another person's face, to improve or change its appearance
• She takes ages to make up in the mornings.
• For the film, they made him up as an Indian., make up sth
to form a particular thing, amount or number as a whole
• Road accident victims make up almost a quarter of the hospital's patients.
• The book is made up of a number of different articles., make sth up
[ M ] PREPARE
3. specialized to produce or prepare something from cloth
• We could use the rest of the material to make up some curtains., make of sth/sb
If you ask someone what they make of someone or something, you want to know their opinion about that person or thing, often because there is something strange about them
• Can you make anything of this information?
• What do you make of the new boss?
• I don't know what to make of it., make up for sth
to take the place of something lost or damaged or to compensate for something bad with something good
• No amount of money can make up for the death of a child.
• This year's good harvest will make up for last year's bad one.
• [ + -ing verb ]: He bought me dinner to make up for being so late the day before., make sth up
[ M ] PREPARE
4. specialized If you make up a page, book or newspaper, you arrange the text and pictures in the form in which they will be printed.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
Phrase(s): make someone
Sl. to identify someone. (Used especially in the context of law enforcement.) • The cop stared at Wilbur and tried to make him, but failed to identify him and let him go. • The cops took the suspect downtown where the police chief made him as a wanted criminal., Phrase(s): make something
to attend an event. • I hope you can make our party. • I am sorry, but I won’t be able to make it.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
4
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with MAKE, Also see ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER; ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY; CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW'S EAR; CAN'T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF; KISS AND MAKE UP; MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK; MIGHT MAKES RIGHT; ON THE MAKE; PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT; PUT IN (MAKE) AN APPEARANCE; PUT THE MAKE ON; RUN FOR IT, MAKE A; THAT MAKES TWO OF US; TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT; WHAT MAKES ONE TICK. Also see under MADE.
American Heritage Idioms
5
general::
make
used about things you make yourself, or things that are made in a factory:
• Diane makes all her own clothes. • My camera was made in China.
produce
to make something in large quantities to be sold, or to make something as the result of a natural process:
• The factory produces high-quality steel. • Japan produces some of the most advanced mobile phones. • The pancreas is a gland in your body which produces hormones.
create
to make something new and original:
• Tarantino created a whole new style of films. • Many companies invest a lot of money in creating new products. • Potter was famous for creating characters such as ‘Peter Rabbit’. • This technique is used to create images of beautiful forests.
manufacture
to make machines, cars, equipment etc in factories:
• The company manufactures aircraft parts.
mass-produce
to make very large quantities of something in a factory:
• They developed a way to mass-produce the drug.
develop
to design and make something new over a period of time:
• In 1962, Enders developed an effective vaccine against measles. • The company is developing new anti-virus software.
form
to make something as the result of a natural process or chemical reaction:
• Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. • The research will help us understand how planets are formed.
generate
to make something such as heat, electricity, or power:
• Wind can be used to generate electricity.
Longman-Thesaurus