Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"
Автор книги: Adam Makkai
Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Словари
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Текущая страница: 34 (всего у книги 61 страниц)
[look as if butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth] See: BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH.
[look as if one has come out of a bandbox]{v. phr.}, {informal} To look very clean and fresh; look as if you had just had a bath and put on all-new clothing. •/In spite of the long, hot train ride, Jody arrived looking as if she had come out of a bandbox./ •/After a day at the rodeo we were all dusty and tired except for Hope, who looked as if she’d come out of a bandbox./
[look at]{v.} To have a way of thinking or feeling toward; think about something in a certain way. •/Is he a hero or a villain? That depends on how you look at it./ •/Depending on how you looked at it, the tea party could be called a pleasure or a bore./
[look at the world through rose-colored glasses] or [see with rose-colored glasses]{v. phr.} To see everything as good and pleasant; not see anything hard or bad. •/When Jean graduated from high school, she looked at the world through rose-colored glasses./ •/If you see everything through rose-colored glasses, you will often be disappointed./
[look back]{v.} To review the past; think of what has happened. •/As John looked back, his life seemed good to him./ •/Murphy looked back on his early struggles as having made him feel especially alive./ •/When Ed applied for a job and asked the school to recommend him, the principal looked back over his records./
[look bleak]{v.} To indicate misfortune; appear threatening or ruinous. •/As prices dropped lower and lower, things looked bleak for Henry’s company./ •/Many witnesses gave testimony against Jerry and his case looked bleak./ •/The future looked bleak when Father got hurt and could not work./
[look daggers]{v. phr.} To show anger with a look; express hate or enmity by a look or stare; look fiercely. •/The other driver looked daggers at Morris for turning in before him./ •/Mary did not dare talk back to her father, but she looked daggers./
[look down on] also [look down upon]{v.} To think of (a person or thing) as less good or important; feel that (someone) is not as good as you are, or that (something) is not worth having or doing; consider inferior. •/Mary looked down on her classmates because she was better dressed than they were./ •/Jack looked down on Al for his poor manners./ •/Miss Tracy likes tennis but she looks down on football as too rough./
[look down one’s nose at]{v. phr.}, {informal} To think of as worthless; feel scorn for. •/The banker’s wife has beautiful china cups, and she looked down her nose at the plastic cups that Mrs. Brown used./ •/Harry has never had to work, and he looks down his nose at people in business./ •/Jerry was the athlete who looked down his nose at the weak student./
[look for]{v.} 1. To think likely; expect. •/We look for John to arrive any day now./ •/The frost killed many oranges, and housewives can look for an increase in their price./ •/Bob wouldn’t go for a ride with the boys because he was looking for a phone call from Julie./ 2. To try to find; search for; hunt. •/Fred spent all day looking for a job./ •/Mary and Joe looked for the Smiths at the play./ 3. To do things that cause (your own trouble); make (trouble) for yourself; provoke. •/Joe often gets into fights because he is always looking for trouble./ •/If you say the opposite of everything that others say, you are looking for a quarrel./
[look for a needle in a haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAY STACK.
[look forward to]{v.} 1. To expect. •/At breakfast, John looked forward to a difficult day./ 2. To expect with hope or pleasure. •/Frank was looking forward to that evening’s date./
[look high and low for]{v. phr.} To look everywhere; search all over. •/Everyone has been looking high and low for the lost key but no one could find it./
[look-in]{n.}, {informal} A chance or hope. – Usually used with a negative. •/It wasn’t much of a look-in, but it was the only chance they let him have./ •/Charlie didn’t realize it, but he never had a look-in with Bonnie./
[look in on]{v.} To go to see; make a short visit with; make a call on. •/On his way downtown, Jim looked in on his aunt./ •/The doctor looked in on Mary each day when he went by./
[look in the eye] or [look in the face]{v. phr.} To meet with a steady look; to face bravely or without shame. •/Mary looked the gangster in the eye, and he turned away without hurting her./ •/John had looked death in the face many times./ •/We often believe a person who looks us in the eye, but it does not prove he is truthful./ •/U promised Harry to write to him while I was on vacation, and if I don’t do it, I won’t be able to look him in the eye./
[look into]{v.} To find out the facts about; examine; study; inspect. •/The mayor felt he should look into the decrease of income from parking meters./ •/Mr. Jones said he was looking into the possibility of buying a house./ Compare: GO INTO(4), SEE ABOUT.
[look like a million dollars]{v. phr.}, {informal} To look well and prosperous; appear healthy and happy and lucky; look pretty and attractive. •/John came back from Florida driving a fine new car, tanned and glowing with health. He looked like a million dollars./ •/Dressed in the new formal and in a new hairdo, Betty looked like a million dollars./ Compare: FEEL LIKE A MILLION.
[look like the cat that ate the canary] or [look like the cat that swallowed the canary]{v. phr.} To seem very self-satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success. •/Peter bet on the poorest horse in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the canary./ •/When she won the prize, she went home looking like the cat that swallowed the canary./
[look on] or [look upon]{v.} 1. To regard; consider; think of. •/The stuff had always been looked on as a worthless factory waste./ •/Until the day Bob made the touchdown, the other boys had looked upon him as rather a sissy./ 2. To be an observer; watch without taking part. •/Fred had never been able to do more than look on at athletic sports./ •/The children played in the park while their mother looked on./ Compare: SIT IN.
[look oneself]{v. phr.} To appear self-possessed and well; look or seem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; to appear all right or normal. •/Mary had had a long illness, but now she looked quite herself again./ •/It had been a big night, and Uncle John had been drinking freely, but he looked entirely himself after a night’s sleep./ – Often used in the negative. •/What’s wrong with Larry? He doesn’t look himself./
[lookout] See: ON THE LOOKOUT.
[look out] or [watch out]{v.} 1. To take care; be careful; be on guard. – Usually used as a command or warning. •/«Look out!» John called, as the car came toward me./ •/«Look out for the train,» the sign at the railroad crossing warns./ 2. To be alert or watchful; keep watching. •/A collector of antique cars asked Frank to look out for a 1906 gas head lamp./ Compare: EYE OUT, ON THE WATCH. 3. {informal} To watch or keep (a person or thing) and do what is needed; provide protection and care. – Used with «for». •/Lillian looked out for her sister’s children one afternoon a week./ •/Uncle Fred looked out for his brother’s orphan son until the boy was through college./ Compare: LOOK AFTER.
[look out for]{v. phr.} To watch out for; be on the alert. •/There were signs along the highway warning drivers to look out for deer crossing./
[look over]{v.} To look at and try to learn something about; look at every part or piece of or at every one of; examine; inspect; study. •/I looked hurriedly over the apples in the basket and took one that looked good./ •/Mrs. Jones spent the evening looking over the month’s bills and writing checks./ •/When a new boy comes to school, the others usually look him over rather carefully./ •/We looked over several kinds of new cars before deciding./ Compare: ONCE-OVER, SIZE UP.
[look sharp]{v.} To be alert; be very attentive; keep a close watch. •/It pays to look sharp in traffic./ •/The guide told us to look sharp because there were rattlesnakes around./
[look small] See: FEEL SMALL.
[look to]{v.} 1. To attend to; get ready for; take care of. •/Plans had been prepared that looked to every possibility./ •/The president assigned a man to look to our needs./ 2. To go for help to; depend on. •/The child looks to his mother to cure his hurts./ 3. See: SEE TO.
[look to one’s laurels] To make sure that your reputation is not spoiled; protect your good name; keep your record from being beaten by others. •/Tom won the broad jump, but he had to look to his laurels./ •/Look to your laurels, Joan. Betty says she is going to run against you for head cheerleader./
[look up]{v.} 1. {informal} To improve in future chances; promise more success. •/The first year was tough, but business looked up after that./ 2. To search for; hunt for information about; find. •/It is a good habit to look up new words in a dictionary./ 3. To seek and find. •/While he was in Chicago, Henry looked up a friend of college days./
[look upon] See: LOOK ON(1).
[look up to]{v.} To think of (someone) as a good example to copy; honor; respect. •/Mr. Smith had taught for many years, and all the students looked up to him./ •/Young children look up to older ones, so older children should be good examples./
[loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.
[loose] See: AT LOOSE ENDS, CAST OFF or CAST LOOSE, CUT LOOSE, FAST AND LOOSE, HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, LET LOOSE or SET LOOSE or TURN LOOSE, ON THE LOOSE.
[loose ends]{n.} 1. Parts or things that should be finished or put together. •/Mary’s composition had many loose ends./ •/When George came home after a long trip, he started picking up the loose ends./ 2. See: AT LOOSE ENDS.
[lord it over]{v. phr.} To act as the superior and master of; dominate; be bossy over; control. •/John learned early to lord it over other children./ •/The office manager lorded it over the clerks and typists./
[Lord knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[lose] See: HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE.
[lose face]{v.} To be embarrassed or shamed by an error or failure; lose dignity, influence or reputation; lose self-respect or the confidence of others. •/Many Japanese soldiers were killed in World War II because they believed that to give up or retreat would make them lose face./ •/John’s careless work made him lose face with his employer./ •/The banker lost face when people found out he bet on horse races./
[lose ground] 1. To go backward; retreat. •/The soldiers began to lose ground when their leader was killed./ Compare: GIVE GROUND. 2. To become weaker; get worse; not improve. •/The sick man began to lose ground when his cough grew worse./ •/When the Democrats are in power, the Republicans lose ground./ Contrast: GAIN GROUND.
[lose heart]{v. phr.} To feel discouraged because of failure; to lose hope of success. •/The team had won no games and it lost heart./ Contrast: TAKE HEART.
[lose one’s balance] Contrast: KEEP ONE’S BALANCE.
[lose oneself]{v. phr.} 1. To go wrong; miss your way; become unable to find the right direction. •/Fred lost himself in the confusion of downtown Boston streets./ 2. To conceal yourself; hide. •/The pick-pocket lost himself in the crowd and escaped the police./ 3. To become deeply interested and forget yourself; become absorbed. •/Sometimes Harry would lose himself in a book for an afternoon at a time./ Compare: IN A WORLD OF ONE’S OWN.
[lose one’s grip]{v. phr.} To fail in control or command; lose your strength, force, or ability to lead. •/Mr. Jones began to lose his grip: he no longer wanted the hard jobs, and he left decisions to others./ •/When a locomotive engineer loses his grip, he is no longer trusted with express runs./
[lose one’s head (over)]{v. phr.} 1. To panic. •/«Let’s not lose our heads,» the captain cried. «We have good lifeboats on this vessel.»/ 2. To become deeply infatuated with someone. •/Don’t lose your head over Jane; she is already married./ Contrast: KEEP ONE’S HEAD.
[lose one’s heart]{v. phr.} To fall in love; begin to love. •/She lost her heart to the soldier with the broad shoulders and the deep voice./ •/Bill lost his heart to the puppy the first time he saw it./
[lose one’s marbles]{v. phr.} To go mad; become crazed. •/Stan must have lost his marbles; he is hopelessly pursuing a happily married woman./
[lose one’s shirt]{v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all or most of your money. •/Uncle Joe spent his life savings to buy a store, but it failed, and he lost his shirt./ •/Mr. Matthews lost his shirt betting on the horses./
[lose one’s temper]{v. phr.} To lose control over one’s anger; to get angry. •/He lost his temper when he broke the key in the lock./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE. Contrast: HOLD ONE’S TEMPER.
[lose one’s tongue]{v. phr.}, informal To be so embarrassed or surprised that you cannot talk. •/The man would always lose his tongue when he was introduced to new people./ Compare: CAT GET ONE’S TONGUE.
[lose out]{v.} To fail to win; miss first place in a contest; lose to a rival. •/John lost out in the rivalry for Mary’s hand in marriage./ •/Fred didn’t want to lose out to the other salesman./ Compare: MISS OUT. Contrast: WIN OUT.
[loser] See: FINDERS KEEPERS or FINDERS KEEPERS LOSERS WEEPERS.
[lose sight of]{v. phr.} 1. Not to be able to see any longer. •/I lost sight of Mary in the crowd./ •/I watched the plane go higher and higher until I lost sight of it./ Contrast: CATCH SIGHT OF. 2. To forget; overlook. •/Johnny was so interested in the game he lost sight of the time./ •/No matter how rich and famous he became, he never lost sight of the fact that he had been born in the slums./
[lose touch]{v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to keep in contact or communication. – Usually used with «with». •/After she moved to another town, she lost touch with her childhood friends./ Compare: OUT OF TOUCH.
[lose track]{v. phr.} To forget about something; not stay informed; fail to keep a count or record. •/What’s the score now? I’ve lost track./ – Usually used with «of». •/Mary lost track of her friends at camp after summer was over./ •/John lost track of the money he spent at the circus./ Compare: OUT OF TOUCH. Contrast: KEEP TRACK.
[loss] See: AT A LOSS, THROW FOR A LOSS.
[lost] See: GET LOST, NO LOVE LOST.
[lost cause]{n. phr.} A movement that has failed and has no chance to be revived. •/Communism in Eastern Europe has become a lost cause./
[lost upon] adj. Wasted. •/Tim’s generosity is completely lost upon Sue; he can’t expect any gratitude from her./
[lot] See: A LOT, CAST ONE’S LOT WITH, SAND LOT, THINK A GREAT DEAL OF or THINK A LOT OF, THROW IN ONE’S LOT WITH or CAST IN ONE’S LOT WITH.
[loud] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, OUT LOUD, THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.
[loud mouth] or [big mouth]{n.}, {slang} A noisy, boastful, or foolish talker. •/Fritz is a loud mouth who cannot be trusted with secrets./ •/When he has had a few drinks, Joe will make empty boasts like any other big mouth./
[loud-mouthed] or [big-mouthed]{adj.}, {slang} Talking noisily, boastfully, or foolishly. •/Fred was a loud-mouthed fellow, whose talk no one listened to./ •/If I were you, I would not listen to that loud-mouthed boy./
[lounge lizard]{n. phr.} A well-dressed male fortune hunter who sits around in bars and other public places, and attends many social events to try to pick up wealthy women through smart conversation. •/Harry has the reputation of being a lounge lizard; he is looking for a rich wife./
[louse up]{v.}, {slang} To throw into confusion; make a mess of; spoil; ruin. •/When the man who was considering John’s house heard that the basement was wet, that was enough to louse up the sale./ •/Fred’s failure in business not only lost him his business but loused him up with his wife./ •/The rain loused up the picnic./ See: MESS UP(2), FUCK UP.
[love] See: FOR LOVE OR MONEY, IN LOVE, LABOR OF LOVE, MAKE LOVE, NO LOVE LOST, PUPPY LOVE also CALF LOVE.
[love affair]{n.} A friendship between lovers; a romance or courtship. •/The love affair of Bob and Jane went on for months./ •/Harry had many love affairs, but he never married./
[love game]{n.} A game of tennis which is won without the opponent scoring. •/Britain took a love game on Songster’s service./
[love-in]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A festival or occasion to celebrate life, human sensuality, the beauty of nature, human sexuality, and universal love; affairs so conceived by some frequently deteriorate into obscenity and drug using sessions in parody of their stated purpose. •/The hippies gathered for a big love-in in the Halght-Ashbury district of San Francisco./
[lovers' lane]{n.} A hidden road or walk where lovers walk or park in the evening. •/A parked car in a lonely lovers' lane often is a chance for holdup men./
[low] See: LAY LOW, LIE LOW.
[lowbrow]{n.} A person of limited culture; a nonintellectual. •/Some people claim that only lowbrows read the comics./ Contrast: HIGH BROW.
[lowdown]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} The inside facts of a matter; the total truth. •/Nixon never gave the American people the lowdown on Watergate./
[lower the boom]{v. phr.}, {informal} To punish strictly; check or stop fully. •/The mayor lowered the boom on outside jobs for city firemen./ •/Father lowered the boom on the girls for staying out after midnight./ Syn.: CRACK DOWN. •/The police lowered the boom on open gambling./
[low-key]{adj.} Relaxed and easygoing. •/Surprisingly, dinner with the governor was a low-key affair./
[low season] Contrast: HIGH SEASON.
[luck] See: DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK, LUCK OUT, PRESS ONE’S LUCK or PUSH ONE’S LUCK, IN LUCK, OUT OF LUCK.
[luck out]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Suddenly to get lucky when in fact the odds are against one’s succeeding. •/I was sure I was going to miss the train as I was three minutes late, but I lucked out, the train was five minutes late./ 2. To be extraordinarily fortunate. •/Catwallender really lucked out at Las Vegas last month; he came home with $10,000 in cash./ 3. (By sarcastic opposition) to be extremely unfortunate; to be killed. •/Those poor marines sure lucked out in Saigon, didn’t they?/
[lucky] See: THANK ONE’S LUCKY STARS.
[lucky star]{n.} A certain star or planet which, by itself or with others, is seriously or jokingly thought to bring a person good luck and success in life. •/John was born under a lucky star./ •/Ted was unhurt in the car accident, for which he thanked his lucky stars./
[lump in one’s throat]{n. phr.} A feeling (as of grief or pride) so strong that you almost sob. •/John’s mother had a lump in her throat at his college graduation./ •/All during her husband’s funeral, Aunt May had a lump in her throat./ •/The bride’s mother had a lump in her throat./
[lump sum]{n.} The complete amount; a total agreed upon and to be paid at one time. •/The case was settled out of court with the plaintiff receiving a lump sum of half a million dollars for damages./
[lunar module (L.M.)] or [Lem]{n.}, {Space English} That portion of the rocket assemblage on a flight to the Moon in which the astronauts descend to the Moon’s surface. •/Building the L.M. was one of the most expensive parts of the American space program./
[lung] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE’S VOICE or AT THE TOP OP ONE’S LUNGS.
[lurch] See: LEAVE IN THE LURCH.
[lust for]{v. phr.} To physically yearn for; hanker after; want something very strongly. •/Ed has been lusting after Meg for a very long time./
[luxury] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY.
M
[mackerel] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MACKEREL.
[mad about]{adj. phr.} 1. Angry about. •/What is Harriet so mad about?/ 2. Enthusiastic about. •/Dan is mad about pop music./
[mad as a hatter] or [mad as a March hare]{adj. phr.} Not able to think right; crazy. •/Anyone who thinks the moon is made of green cheese is mad as a hatter./
[mad as a hornet] or [mad as hops] or [mad as a wet hen]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In a fighting mood; very angry. •/When my father sees the dent in his fender, he’ll be mad as a hornet./ •/Bill was mad as hops when the fellows went on without him./ •/Mrs. Harris was mad as a wet hen when the rabbits ate her tulips./
[mad as a March hare] See: MAD AS A HATTER.
[mad as hops] See: MAD AS A HORNET.
[made of money]{adj. phr.} Very rich; wealthy. •/Mr. Jones buys his children everything they want. He must be made of money./ Compare: MONEY TO BURN.
[made-to-measure] or [tailor-made]{adj.} Made to fit a special set of measurements or needs. •/John has a new made-to-measure suit./ •/The club is tailor-made for Jane./ Syn.: MADE TO ORDER.
[made to order]{adj. phr.} 1. Made specially in the way the buyer wants instead of all the same in large amounts; made especially for the buyer. •/Mr. Black’s clothes were all made to order./ Compare: MADE-TO-MEASURE. 2. Just right. •/The weather was made to order for the hike./
[made up out of whole cloth] See: OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
[magic carpet]{n.} 1. A rug said to be able to transport a person through the air to any place he wishes. •/The caliph of Baghdad flew on his magic carpet to Arabia./ 2. Any form of transportation that is comfortable and easy enough to seem magical. •/Flying the Concord from Dallas to London seemed like boarding the magic carpet./ •/Mr. Smith’s new car drove so smoothly it seemed like a magic carpet./
[maiden speech]{n. phr.} One’s first public speech, usually before some legislative body. •/It was the new congressman’s maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly./
[maiden voyage]{n. phr.} The first voyage of a boat. •/The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage to America from England./
[mail order]{n. phr.} A purchase made by mail. •/If you don’t have a chance to go to a store, you can sometimes make a purchase by mail order./
[main] See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[main drag]{n.}, {colloquial} 1. The most important street or thoroughfare in a town. •/Lincoln Avenue is the main drag of our town./ 2. The street where the dope pushers and the prostitutes are. •/Wells Street is the main drag of Chicago, actionwise./
[main squeeze]{n.}, {slang} 1. The top ranking person in an organization or in a neighborhood; an important person, such as one’s boss. •/Mr. Bronchard is the main squeeze in this office./ 2. The top person in charge of an illegal operation, such as drug sales, etc. •/Before we can clean up this part of town, we must arrest the main squeeze./ 3. One’s principal romantic or sexual partner. •/The singer’s main squeeze is a member of the band./
[majority leader]{n.} The leader of the political party with the most votes in a legislative house. •/The majority leader of the House of Representatives tried to get the members of his party to support the bill./ Compare: MINORITY LEADER.
[make] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, HAVE IT MADE, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, ON THE MAKE.
[make a beeline for]{v. phr.} To go in a straight line toward. •/The runner made a beeline for first base./ •/When the bell rang Ted made a beeline for the door of the classroom./
[make a big deal about]{v. phr.}, {informal} To exaggerate an insignificant event. •/Jeff said, «I’m sorry I banged into you in the dark. Don’t make a big deal out of it.»/
[make a clean breast of]{v. phr.} To admit (your guilt); tell all about (your wrong doing); confess everything. •/The police caught the hit-and-run driver and he made a clean breast of his crime./ •/Arthur worried because he cheated on the test, and finally he went to the teacher and made a clean breast of it./ Compare: OFF ONE’S CHEST.
[make a clean sweep of]{v. phr.} 1. Achieve a complete victory. •/In 7980 the Reagan Republicans made a clean sweep of the western states./ 2. To eliminate thoroughly and completely. •/The new attorney general is expected to make a clean sweep of all the old administrative personnel./
[make a clown of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a day of it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do something all day. •/When they go to the beach they take a picnic lunch and make a day of it./ Compare: MAKE A NIGHT OF.
[make a dent in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make less by a very small amount; reduce slightly. – Usually used in the negative or with such qualifying words as «hardly» or «barely». •/John shoveled and shoveled, but he didn’t seem to make a dent in the pile of sand./ •/Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework./
[make a difference] or [make the difference]{v. phr.} To change the nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. •/John’s good score on the test made the difference between his passing or failing the course./ •/It doesn’t make a bit of difference if you are late to my party. I just want you to come./
[make a face]{v. phr.}, {informal} To twist your face; make an ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue). •/The boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back./ •/The sick boy swallowed the medicine and made a face./
[make a fast buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a federal case out of] See: MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.
[make a fool of] or (informal) [make a monkey of]{v. phr.} To make (someone) look foolish. •/The boy made a fool of himself./ •/Mary’s classmates made a fool of her by telling her the party was to be a masquerade./
[make after]{v. phr.} To chase something; run after something. •/The mouse escaped from the kitchen corner and the cat made after it./
[make a fuss over]{v. phr.} 1. To quarrel about something or someone. •/I want you kids to stop fussing about who gets the drumstick./ 2. To he excessively concerned about someone or something; worry. •/Let’s not fuss over such an insignificant problem!/ 3. To show exaggerated care or preoccupation about a person or an animal. •/Aunt Hermione is constantly fussing over her old lapdog./
[make a go of]{v. phr.} To turn into a success. •/He is both energetic and highly skilled at trading; he is sure to make a go of any business that holds his interest./
[make a hit]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be successful; be well-liked; get along well. •/Mary’s new red dress made a hit at the party./ •/Alice was so happy that her boyfriend made a hit with her parents./ Compare: GO OVER(6).
[make a killing]{v. phr.} To earn or suddenly win a very large sum of money. •/Herb bought a lot of soybean stock when the price was low and sold it when the price went up. Small wonder he made a huge killing./
[make a living]{v. phr.} To earn one’s livelihood. •/If you’re good at your job, you can make a better living than if you don’t know what you’re doing./ •/It is easier to make a living in the United States than in many other countries./
[make allowance]{v. phr.} To judge results by the circumstances. – Often used in plural. •/When a small boy is helping you, you must make allowances for his age./
[make a long story short]{v. phr.} To summarize a lengthy narrative. •/«So, to make a long story short,» he said, «I made a killing on the stock market.»/ Compare: IN A NUTSHELL.
[make a match]{v. phr.} To bring a man and woman together for the purpose of an engagement or marriage. •/Sheila’s aunt is anxious to make a match between her and an attractive, wealthy man./
[make a mess of] See: SCREW UP.
[make a monkey of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a motion]{v. phr.} To propose in some committee meeting or legislative group that a certain action be taken. •/The secretary made a motion that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted./
[make a mountain out of a molehill] To think a small problem is a big one; try to make something unimportant seem important. •/You’re not hurt badly, Johnny. Stop trying to make a mountain out of a molehill with crying./ •/Sarah laughed at a mistake Betty made in class, and Betty won’t speak to her; Betty is making a mountain out of a molehill./
[make a move]{v. phr.} 1. To budge; change places. •/«If you make a move,» the masked gangster said, «I’ll start shooting.»/ 2. To go home after dinner or a party. •/«I guess it’s time to make a move,» Roy said at the end of the party./
[make a name for oneself]{v. phr.} To become recognized in a field of endeavor; become a celebrity. •/Joe has worked so hard at soybean trading that he made quite a name for himself as a trader./ •/Bill has made a name for himself both as a pianist and as a composer./
[make an appearance] See: PUT IN AN APPEARANCE.
[make an end of]{v. phr.} To make (something) end; put a stop to; stop. •/To make an end of rumors that the house was haunted, a reporter spent the night there./
[make an example of]{v. phr.} To punish (someone) publicly to show what happens when someone does wrong. •/The teacher made an example of the boy who copied from another student during a test./ •/The Pilgrims made an example of a thief by putting him in the stocks./
[make an exhibition of oneself]{v. phr.} To behave foolishly or embarrassingly in public. •/Stop drinking so much and making an exhibition of yourself./
[make a night of it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To spend the whole night at an activity. •/The dog found the door unlatched and made a night of it./ •/The boys and girls at the dance made a night of it./ Compare: MAKE A DAY OF IT.
[make a nuisance of oneself]{v. phr.} To constantly bother others. •/The screaming kids made a nuisance of themselves around the swimming pool./
[make a pass at]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Make advances toward a member of the opposite sex (usually man to a woman) with the goal of seducing the person. •/We’ve been dating for four weeks but Joe has never even made a pass at me./
[make a pig of oneself]{v. phr.}, {informal} To overindulge; eat too much. •/Mary said, «This dessert is so delicious that I am going to make a pig of myself and have some more.»/
[make a play for]{v. phr.}, {slang} To try to get the interest or liking of; flirt with; attract. •/Bob made a play for the pretty new girl./ •/John made a play for the other boys' votes for class president./
[make a point]{v. phr.} To try hard; make a special effort. – Used with «of» and a verbal noun. •/He made a point of remembering to get his glasses fixed./ •/He made a point of thanking his hostess before he left the party./
