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./ [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./ [make a stab at] {v. phr.} To try doing something at random without sufficient preparation. * /The singer was not familiar with the aria but she decided to make a stab at it anyhow./ Contrast: STAB IN THE BACK, STAB IN THE DARK. [make a stand] {v. phr.} 1. To take a firm position on an issue. * /He keeps talking about politics hut he never makes a stand for what he believes in./ 2. To take up a defensive position against the enemy. * /The retreating troops decided to make a stand by the river./ Contrast: LAST DITCH, LAST STAND. [make a stir] See: MAKE A SCENE. [make a touch] {v. phr.} To borrow money; try to borrow money. * /He is known to make a touch whenever he is hard up for cash./ [make a virtue of necessity] {v. phr.} Make the best of things as they are; do cheerfully what you do. * /After Mr. Wilson lost all his money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting life as a teacher./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF. [make away with] {v.}, {informal} Take; carry away; cause to disappear. * /The lumberjack made away with a great stack of pancakes./ * /Two masked men held up the clerk and made away with the payroll./ Compare: MAKE OFF. [make-believe] {n.} False; untrue; created by illusion. * /The creatures of Star Wars are all make-believe./ [make believe] {v.} To act as if something is true while one knows it is not; pretend. * /Let's make believe we have a million dollars./ * /Danny made believe he didn't hear his mother calling./ [make book] {v. phr.} To serve as a bookmaker taking bets on the horse races. * /The police were out to prosecute anybody who made book illegally./ [make both ends meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET. [make bricks without straw] {v. phr.} To make something without the wherewithal; do something the hard way; do a job under hard conditions. * /John could not go to a library, and writing the report was a job of making bricks without straw./ * /It was making bricks without straw to put on plays in that old barn./ [make conversation] {v. phr.} To talk with someone just so that there will be talk. * /John made conversation with the stranger so that he would not feel left out./ * /Mary didn't really mean what she said about Joan. She was only making conversation./ [make do] {v. phr.} To use a poor substitute when one does not have the right thing. * /John did not have a hammer, and he had to make do with a heavy rock./ * /This motel isn't what we wanted, but we must make do./ * /Many families manage to make do on very little income./ Compare: GET ALONG. [make ends meet] {v. phr.} To have enough money to pay one's bills; earn what it costs to live. * /Both husband and wife had to work to make ends meet./ [make eyes at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To look at a girl or boy in a way that tries to attract him to you; flirt. * /The other girls disliked her way of making eyes at their boyfriends instead of finding one of her own./ [make faces at] {v. phr.} To grimace; scowl. * /"Stop making faces at each other, you children," my aunt said, "and start eating."/ [make for] {v.} To go toward; start in the direction of. * /The children took their ice skates and made for the frozen pond./ * /The bee got his load of pollen and made for the hive./ [make free with] {v.} 1. To take or use (things) without asking. * /Bob makes free with his roommate's clothes./ * /A student should not make free with his teacher's first name./ 2. To act toward (someone) in a rude or impolite way. * /The girls don't like Ted because he makes free with them./ Compare: TAKE LIBERTIES. [make friends] {v. phr.} To become friends; form a friendship. * /Mrs. Jones invited Bobby to her home to play with Don. She hoped that they would make friends with each other./ * /You can make friends with an elephant by giving him peanuts./ [make fun of] or [poke fun at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To joke about; laugh at; tease; mock. * /Men like to make fun of the trimmings on women's hats./ * /James poked fun at the new pupil because her speech was not like the other pupils./ [make good] {v. phr.} 1. To do what one promised to do; make something come true. * /Mr. Smith borrowed some money. He promised to pay it back on payday. He made good his promise./ * /Joe made good his boast to swim across the lake./ * /John's mother promised to take him and his friends to the zoo on Saturday. She made good her promise./ Compare: CARRY OUT. 2. To compensate; pay for loss or damage. * /The policeman told the boy's parents that the boy must make good the money he had stolen or go to jail./ - Often used in the phrase "make it good". * /The radio was broken while it was being delivered so the store had to make it good and send us a new radio./ Compare: MAKE UP. 3. To do good work at one's job; succeed. * /Kate wanted to be a nurse. She studied and worked hard in school. Then she got a job in the hospital and made good as a nurse./ [make good time] {v. phr.} To make unimpeded progress on a journey; arrive at one's destination sooner than estimated. * /There was not much traffic on the expressway so we made good time on our way to the airport./ [make haste] {v. phr.} To move fast; hurry. - Rarely used in speaking. * /The dog wriggled into one end of the hollow log, and the rabbit made haste to get out the other end./ * /Mary saw that she had hurt Jane's feelings, and made haste to say she was sorry./ Compare: MAKE TRACKS. [make haste with] See: HURRY ON WITH. [make hay while the sun shines] {v. phr.} To do something at the right time; not wait too long. * /Dick had a free hour so he made hay while the sun shone and got his lesson for the next day./ Compare: MAKE THE MOST OF. [make head or tail of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To see the why of; finding a meaning in; understand. - Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. * /She could not make head or tail of the directions on the dress pattern./ * /Can you make head or tail of the letter?/ [make headway] {v. phr.} To move forward; make progress. * /The university is making headway with its campus reorganization project./ [make it hot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bring punishment; cause trouble. * /Dick threatened to make it hot for anyone who tied knots in his pajama legs again./ [make it snappy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To move quickly; be fast; hurry. - Usually used as a command. * /"Make it snappy," Mother said, "or we'll be late for the movie."/ * /The man hurried into the restaurant and told the waitress, "A cup of coffee, and make it snappy."/ [make it with] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To be accepted by a group. * /Joe finally made it with the in crowd in Hollywood./ 2. {vulgar} To have sex with (someone). * /I wonder if Joe has made it with Sue./ [make light of] {v. phr.} To treat an important matter as if it were trivial. * /One ought to know which problems to make light of and which ones to handle seriously./ Compare: LAUGH OFF. Contrast: MAKE MUCH OF. [make little of] {v. phr.} To make (something) seem unimportant; belittle. * /Mary made little of Jane's new bicycle because she was jealous./ * /Tom made little of his saving the drowning boy./ Contrast: MAKE MUCH OF. [make love] {v. phr.} 1. To be warm, loving, and tender toward someone of the opposite sex; try to get him or her to love you too. * /There was moonlight on the roses and he made love to her in the porch swing./ 2. To have sexual relations with (someone). * /It is rumored that Alfred makes love to every girl he hires as a secretary./ [make merry] {v. phr.}, {literary} To have fun, laugh, and be happy, * /In Aesop's fable the grasshopper made merry while the ant worked and saved up food./ * /In the Bible story a rich man ate and drank and made merry./ [make mincemeat (out) of] {v. phr.} To destroy completely. * /The defense attorney made mincemeat of the prosecution's argument./ [make much of] {v. phr.} To make something seem of more worth or importance than it really is; praise. * /Visitors made much of the new collie./ * /The boy made much of the hard things of his mountain climb./ Contrast: MAKE LIGHT OF, MAKE LITTLE OF. [make neither head nor tail of] {v. phr.} To be unable to figure something out. * /This puzzle is so complicated that I can make neither head nor tail of it./ Compare: HEADS OR TAILS. [make no bones] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To have no doubts; not to worry about right or wrong; not to be against. - Used with "about". * /Bill makes no bones about telling a lie to escape punishment./ * /The boss made no bones about hiring extra help for the holidays./ 2. To make no secret; not keep from talking; admit. - Used with "about" or "of the fact". * /John thinks being poor is no disgrace and he makes no bones of the fact./ * /Mary made no bones about her love of poetry even after some of her friends laughed at her./ [make of] {v. phr.} To interpret; understand. * /What do you make of his sudden decision to go to Africa?/ [make off] {v.} To go away; run away; leave. * /When the deer saw the hunter it made off at once./ * /A thief stopped John on a dark street and made off with his wallet./ Compare: TAKE OFF. [make one feel at home] {v. phr.} To be hospitable; welcome; make someone feel at ease. * /They are very popular hosts because they always manage to make their guests feel at home./ [make one out to be] {v. phr.} To accuse someone of being something. * /Don't make me out to be such a grouch; I am really quite happy-go-lucky./ [make one's bed and lie in it] To be responsible for what you have done and so to have to accept the bad results. * /Billy smoked one of his father's cigars and now he is sick. He made his bed, now let him lie in it./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2). [make one's blood boil] or [make the blood boil] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make someone very angry. * /When someone calls me a liar it makes my blood boil./ * /It made Mary's blood boil to see the children make fun of the crippled girl./ Compare: BOILING POINT. [make one's blood run cold] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD. [make one's ears burn] See: EARS BURN. [make oneself at home] {v. phr.} To feel comfortable; act as if you were in your own home. * /If you get to my house before I do, help yourself to a drink and make yourself at home./ * /John was an outdoor man and could make himself at home in the woods at night./ Compare: AT EASE, AT HOME(2). [make oneself scarce] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave quickly; go away. * /The boys made themselves scarce when they saw the principal coming to stop their noise./ * /A wise mouse makes himself scarce when a cat is nearby./ [make one's hair stand on end] See: HAIR STAND ON END. [make one's head spin] {v. phr.} To be bewildered; be confused. * /It makes my head spin to think about the amount of work I still have to do./ [make one's mark] {v. phr.} To become known to many people; do well the work you started to do; make a reputation. * /Shakespeare made his mark as a playwright./ [make one's mouth water] {v. phr.} 1. To look or smell very good; make you want very much to eat or drink something you see or smell. * /The pies in the store window made Dan's mouth water./ * /The picture of the ice cream soda made his mouth water./ 2. To be attractive; make you want to have something very much. * /Judy collects folk song records, and the records in the store window made her mouth water./ Compare: LICK ONE'S CHOPS. [make one's pile] {v. phr.} To make one's fortune. * /The rich man made his pile in the stock market./ [make one's way] {v. phr.} 1. To go forward with difficulty; find a path for yourself. * /They made their way through the crowd./ 2. To do many hard things to earn a living; make a life work for yourself. * /He was anxious to finish school and make his own way in the world./ Compare: SHIFT FOR ONESELF. [make one tick] {v. phr.} To cause to operate; to motivate. * /He is so secretive that we are unable to figure out what makes him tick./ [make or break] {v. phr.} To bring complete success or failure, victory or defeat. * /Playing the role of Hamlet will make or break the young actor./ [make out] {v.} 1. To write the facts asked for (as in an application blank or a report form); fill out. * /The teacher made out the report cards and gave them to the students to take home./ * /Mrs. Smith gave the clerk in the store some money and the clerk made out a receipt./ 2. To see, hear, or understand by trying hard. * /It was dark, and we could not make out who was coming along the road./ * /They could not make out what the child had drawn. /* /The book had many hard words and Anne could not make out what the writer meant./ * /Mr. White does many strange things. No one can make him out./ Syn.: FIGURE OUT. 3. {informal} To make someone believe; show; prove. * /Charles and Bob had a fight, and Charles tried to make out that Bob started it./ * /The boy said he did not take the money but the teacher found the money in the boy's desk and it made him out to be a liar./ 4. {informal} Do well enough; succeed. * /John's father wanted John to do well in school and asked the teacher how John was making out./ * /The sick woman could not make out alone in her house, so her friend came and helped her./ 5. To kiss or pet. * /What are Jack and Jill up to? - They're making out on the back porch./ [make over] {v.} 1. To change by law something from one owner to another owner; change the name on the title (lawful paper) from one owner to another. * /Mr. Brown made over the title to the car to Mr. Jones./ 2. To make something look different; change the style of. * /He asked the tailor t