Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[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./
[make a practice of]{v. phr.} To make a habit of; do regularly. •/Make a practice of being on time for work./
[make a quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a racket]{v. phr.} To cause a lot of noisy disturbance. •/I wish the kids playing in the street wouldn’t make such a racket while I’m trying to take a nap./
[make a scene]{v. phr.} To act hysterically; attract unfavorable attention. •/I didn’t want Kate to make a scene in front of all of those people, so I gave her the money she wanted./
[make a splash]{v. phr.} To cause a sensation. •/The brilliant young pianist, barely 14 years old, made quite a splash on the concert circuit./