All English idioms and phrases - page 116

Meanings of Make use of:

phrase

To use something that is available

Usage examples:

We might as well make use of the hotel's facilities., we must make use of every weapon we have in t…

Meanings of Make waves:

phrase

Create a significant impression.

Usage examples:

He has already made waves as a sculptor

idiom

To shock or upset people with something new or different

Usage examples:

When i started the job, a friend told me not to make waves because the managers didn't like people …

Meanings of Make way:

idiom

Get out of the way

phrase

Allow room for someone or something else.

Usage examples:

The land is due to be concreted over to make way for a car park

Meanings of Make with:

collocation

To succeed in communicating with someone or something, especially by speaking or writing to them

Usage examples:

She finally made contact with him in italy., he made contact with the organization and offered to d…

Meanings of Make-a:

collocation

To suddenly turn and go in the opposite direction than the one you were travelling in

Usage examples:

We had to make a 180 because we missed the turn., "can you tell me where the hotel is?" "sure - mak…

Meanings of Make-a-beeline-for:

phrase

Hurry directly to.

Usage examples:

The city commuters made a beeline for the bar

Meanings of Make-a-bid-for:

phrase

To try to get control of something

Usage examples:

The company made a takeover bid for one of its rivals., another lender could make a takeover bid fo…

Meanings of Make-a-big-thing-of:

idiom

To give something too much importance

Usage examples:

I want a party, but i don't want to make a big thing of it.

Meanings of Make-a-big-thing-out-of:

idiom

To give something too much importance

Usage examples:

I want a party, but i don't want to make a big thing of it.

Meanings of Make-a-break-for-it:

collocation

To try to escape quickly

Usage examples:

When he let go of my arm, i made a break for it., he was watching me carefully as though he expecte…

Meanings of Make-a-bundle:

idiom

To earn a lot of money

Usage examples:

They made a bundle selling their business.

Meanings of Make-a-case-for:

idiom

To argue that something is the best thing to do, giving your reasons

Usage examples:

We will only publish a new edition if you can make a convincing case for it.

Meanings of Make-a-clean-breast-of:

idiom

To tell the truth about something

Usage examples:

Julia finally made a clean breast of it and admitted that she had stolen the money.

Meanings of Make-a-dent-in:

idiom

To reduce an amount of something, esp. money or work

Usage examples:

Buying a new car put a big dent in our savings., i haven’t even made a dent in that huge stack of p…

Meanings of Make-a-difference:

idiom

To improve a situation

Usage examples:

Exercise can make a big difference to your state of health., putting up some new wallpaper has made…

Meanings of Make-a-fool-of:

phrase

To trick someone or make someone appear stupid in some way

Usage examples:

You made a fool of me in front of all those people!, he felt that she'd made a fool of him and he w…

Meanings of Make-a-fuss:

phrase

To give someone a lot of attention and treat them well

Usage examples:

She doesn't see her grandchildren very often so she makes a real fuss of them when she does., i was…

Meanings of Make-a-hash-of:

phrase

To do something very badly

Usage examples:

He made a complete hash of the last question., we heard a brass band making a hash of "fanfare for …

Meanings of Make-a-hole-in:

idiom

To reduce an amount of money by a lot

Usage examples:

The trip made a big hole in our savings but i'm glad we went.

Meanings of Make-a-joke-of:

idiom

To laugh at something although it is serious or important

Usage examples:

He tried to make a joke of the fact that he hadn't passed the test.

Meanings of Make-a-killing:

idiom

To earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort

Usage examples:

They made a killing with the sale of their london house.

Meanings of Make-a-meal-of:

idiom

To spend more time or energy doing something than is necessary

Usage examples:

I only asked for a summary of the main points but she's making a real meal out of it.

Meanings of Make-a-mockery-of:

idiom

To make something seem stupid or without value

Usage examples:

Behaviour like this makes a mockery of professional sport.

Meanings of Make-a-move:

idiom

To leave a place

Usage examples:

It's late - i think it's time we made a move., he accused the man of making a move on his girlfrien…

Meanings of Make-a-muck-of:

idiom

To spoil something or do something very badly

Usage examples:

I've made a muck of it - i'll have to do it again.