[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./