Page 281 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 281

make something up to someone


        makeŁ something up  to  someone to  rpay  Man, I’ve got to make the scłne. The wholł
          sàmeone; to make amendsŁto sàmeone.  world will be there!
            I’m oo oorry I’ve nsulŁed you. How can
          I make it up to you?   I’m sorry I brokł  makeŁ time  (fłrŁ  someone  ort something) to
          our dØte. I’ll make t up to you, I promise.  schedule time to see someone or do
                                             something.Ł   I can make time for you to-
        makeŁ something włrthŁ  someone’ while to  morrow morning.   I am very busy, but I
          make somethingŁprofitable enough for  can make time.   You are going to havł
          sàmeone to do.    If you delver this par-  to start makng time for balanced meals.
          cel for me, I’ll make it worth your while.
          The boss said he’d make it worth our whilł  makeŁ timeŁ (withŁ  someone) to  flirt  with,
          if we worked late.                 date, orŁhangŁaràundŁwith sàmeone.Ł(In-
                                             formal.)   I hear that Tom’s been mak-
        makeŁtheŁbed and makeŁ someone’ bed to  ing time with Ann.   I hear they’ve błen
          resðore aŁbedŁto anŁunslept-inŁcondition.  makng time for months.
            I make my bed evłry morning.    The
          maid goes to all the rooms to make the  makeŁ up  for  lostŁ time to do much of
          beds.                              sàmething;Łto do sàmethingŁfast.Ł    Bł-
                                             cause we took so long eating lunch, we havł
        makeŁtheŁbeðtŁofŁ  something to try to make  to drive faster to make up for lost time.
          a bad situation work out well. (Compare  Otherwise we won’t arrive on time.    AŁ
          this with make the most of something.)    the age of sixty, Bill learned to plØy golf.
          It’s not good, but wł’ll have to make the  Now he plØys it every dØy. He’s makng up
          best of it.   Ann is clłver łnough to make  for lost time.
          the best of a bad situØtion.
                                            makeŁupŁforŁ someone ortsomething to take the
        makeŁtheŁfeathers fly Go to make the fur  place of someone orŁsomething.Ł   John
          fly.
                                             can’t plØy in the game SaturdØy, but I think
        makeŁtheŁfurŁfly  and makeŁtheŁfeath-  I can make up for him.   Do you think
          ers fly to cause aŁfight orŁanŁargument;  that this cØt can make up for the one that
          to create an uproar (about something). (In-  ran away?
          formal.)   When your mother gets homł
          and  sees  what  you’ve  done,  she’ll  really  makeŁupŁ(withŁ someone) to reconcile with
          make the fur fly.   When thooe two głt to-  sàmeone; to end a disagreement (with
          gether, they’ll make the feathers fly. They  sàmeone).Ł   Bill  and  Max  decided  to
          hate each other.                   make up.   They made up with each other
                                             and are still very good friends.
        makeŁtheŁgrade to be satisfactory; to be
          what isŁexpected.Ł(Infàrmal.)    I’m sorry,  makeŁuseŁofŁ someone ortsomething to use or
          but your work doesn’t exactly make the  utilize someone orŁsomething.    If you
          grade.   This meal doesn’t just make the  make use of all your talłnts and skills, you
          grade. It is excellłnt.            should succłed.    The technician makes
                                             good use of a number of special tools.
        makeŁtheŁmostŁofŁ  something to make som-
          thingŁappearŁasŁgàodŁasŁpossible; to ex-  makeŁwaveð  to make trouble or difficul-
          ploit something;Łto gt asŁmuch out of  ties.Ł(Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.ŁCompare this
          sàmethingŁasŁis possible.Ł(Compare this  with  rock  the  boat.)   I doà’t want to
          with make the best of something.)   Mary  make wØves, but this just isn’t right.
          knows how to make the most of her talłnts.  Why do you alwØys have to make wØves?
            They  designed  the  advertisemłnts  to  Can’t you be constructive?
          make the most of the product’s features.
                                            makeŁ way to  make  progress;Ł to  move
        makeŁtheŁscene to appearŁsàmewhere, es-  ahead.Ł (OriginallyŁ nautical.Ł Se  also
          peciallyŁ at  aŁ socialŁ event.Ł (Slang.)     I  make way (for someone or something).)   Is
          hope I can make the scłne SaturdØy night  this  project  making  wØy?    A  sailboat
          at the party.   The big race is tomorrow.  can’t make way if there is no wind.

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