Phrasal Verbs with MAKE

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Below we have a list of Phrasal verbs that begin with MAKE and then an explanation of each one with some examples.

• Make for (something)
• Make (sb/st) into (sb/st)
• Make of
• Make off
• Make off with
• Make out
• Make (something) out
• Make (something) out to be
• Make (somebody) out
• Make up
• Make up for

This is not a complete list. We will add more Phrasal Verbs with MAKE when we can.

Make for (Something)

1. = to move towards something or a place

• Make for the hills, a tsunami is approaching!
• He made for his apartment a couple of hours ago.

2. = to contribute to, lead to or cause a result or situation.

• Shakespeare's writing makes for a difficult read.
• His gift of $1,000 will certainly make for a happy birthday.
• Both candidates are popular so it should make for an interesting election.

Make (somebody/something) into (somebody/something)

1. = to convert one thing into another thing

• His parents made his bedroom into a billiards room once he moved out.
• His father said that joining the army would make him into a real man, but he was wrong.

Make (something) out

1. = to just be able to hear, read or see something

• He spoke so quietly we could hardly make out what he was saying.
• If you can make out the billboard from such a distance you really have excellent vision.

2. = to fill out the details of a document (usually a check)

• You can make out the cheque to Woodward Ltd.

Make (something) out to be

1. = to claim; to assert

• He makes himself out to be an important artist but his paintings are utter garbage.
• I think the critics make that movie out to be more profound than it really is.

Make of

1. = to try to understand and find a reason for something

• I don't know what to make of her suddenly unfriendly attitude towards me.
• Can you make anything of these ruins?

2. = to think and have an opinion about something

• What do you make of the new policy the president signed?

Make off

1. = To hurry away, especially in order to escape

• The thieves had to make off in their car when the police arrived.
• The pop star made off from the concert before the fans could find him.

Make off with

1. = To steal something and (quickly) take it away.

• The looters made off with all the laptops that were in the computer store.

Make out

1. = Manage; fare; deal with. Usually used informally in a question after "How...?"

• How did you make out yesterday on the biology test?
• How is she making out with the recent death of her mother?

2. = slang for to kiss and grope, though not to have sex.

• We were making out in the gym and got caught by the teacher

Make (somebody) out

1. = To understand a person's character

• Since she is normally quiet and reserved it is hard to make her out.

Make (something) over to (somebody)

1. = Transfer ownership

• The government of Mugabe made all the lands of the whites over to black African farmers.

Make up

1. = the composition of something

• The committee was made up of all the regional managers.

2. = combination of qualities that form a part of someone's character

• Flexibility and integrity are key elements of her make up.
• He is made up of old fashioned values.

3. = to apply make up, rouge, powder, eyeliner, etc. Also to make somebody up

• The actors must make themselves up before going on stage.
• The stylist made up her eyes that they looked huge for the party.

4. = to invent a story, usually to deceive or entertain

• My four year old niece is always making up stories, last week she told me that she and her friends flew to the moon.
• He always makes up wonderful fairytales about distant lands for the children before they go to sleep.

5. = To form or constitute something

• It's an interesting neighbourhood because it's made up of an eclectic mix of people from all over the world.
• The class is made up of three sections of conversation and two sections of written exercises.

6. = a required number or an amount to complete something

• We need two more people to make up a football team.

7. = To prepare a bed (or something) for use

• The room is tidy, I just have to make up the bed for you.

8. = To put something together from many different things

• Let's make up an Easter basket for your nephew.

9. = To become friendly with someone again, usually after an argument or fight.

• After three years without talking to each other, they finally made up.

Make up for

1. = the compensate for something; to replace something lost

• I know I ruined your favourite dress but I hope this new one I bought you makes up for it.
• What she lacked in experience, she made up for in the way she learns quickly.
• She spend two weeks with her family to make up for her year long absence.
• Hopefully insurance will make up for the damages from the fire.

This is not the complete list. We will add more Phrasal Verbs with MAKE when we can.

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