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makeover
qualities of (especially something good): This story makes good reading. | The hall would make a good theatre. | 'They say it will be sunny tomorrow.' 'That will make a change.' | She would make him a good wife. OTHER MEANINGS 12 [T] infml to give the particular qualities of; complete: It's the bright paint which really makes the room. | The good news really made my day! (=meant I had a good day) 13 [T] to tidy (a bed that has just been slept in) by straightening the sheets, pulling over the cover etc 14 [T] especially old use to travel (a distance): He made a few more yards before he fell to the ground. 15 [T+to-v286] lit or old use to be about (to): He made to speak, but I stopped him. 16 make a go of sthg to succeed; do something well: They're really making a go of their marriage/business. 17 make as if to be about to: He made as if to speak, but I stopped him. 18 make a play for infml to try to get: He made a play for the keys, but I held them out of his reach. 19 make believe to pretend: They made believe they were princes and princesses. → see also MAKE-BELIEVE 20 make do (with/without something) infml to use (something) even though it may not be exactly what is wanted or needed: We haven't got meat, so we'll have to make do with bread/make do without. 21 make good a) AmE [+on] to keep a promise or repay a debt: He made good on all his debts. b) to succeed: You'll make good if you keep trying. 22 make it a) to arrive in time: I think we'll just make it! b) infml to succeed: It's hard to make it to the top in show business. 23 make like AmE infml sometimes derog to act as if one were; pretend to be: He makes like he's the biggest TV star around. 24 make my day a threat or warning not to do sthg. because the speaker is ready for trouble: Go on, hit me! Make my day. 25 make or break (which will) cause success or complete failure: What the critics say can make or break a new young performer. | a make-or-break decision → see also MADE²
Compare do and make. 1 These are used in many fixed expressions like do a favour, make war, where there is no rule about which one to use. But generally you do an action and make something which was not there before: to do the shopping/the ironing/your exercises | to make a fire/a noise | 'What are you doing?' 'Cooking.' | 'What are you making?' 'A cake.' 2 When make means 'to force' or 'to cause', do not use to before a following verb unless the sentence is passive: She made me cry. | I was made to walk home.
make away with sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] old-fash infml 1 to kill (especially oneself) 2 to steal
make for sthg. phr v [T no pass.] 1 to move in the direction of, usually quickly or purposefully: It started raining, so she made for the nearest shelter. 2 to result in; make possible or likely: The large print makes for easier reading.
make (sthg./sbdy.) into sthg. phr v [T] to use or be usable in making; turn into: I'm going to make this material into a skirt.
make sthg. of sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] 1 to understand (partly or at all) by: I don't know what to make of him/of his odd behaviour. 2 to give (the usually stated amount of importance) to: She tends to make too much of her problems. | Well, do you want to make something of it? (=a threatening reply to someone who is arguing)
make off phr v [I] to leave or escape in a hurry
make off with sthg. phr v [T] infml to steal
make out phr v 1 [T[make sthg. ⇔ out]] to write in complete form: to make out a cheque/a bill/a list 2 [T[make sthg./sbdy. ⇔ out]] infml to see, hear, or understand with difficulty: I can just make out the writing. | He's an odd character; I can't quite make him out. | [+wh-] I can't make out how to put the top back on. 3 [T] infml to claim or pretend (that someone or something is so), usually falsely: [+that] He makes out he's the only person here who does any work. | [+obj+adj] He makes himself out to be very important. | She's not as bad as she is made out (to be). 4 [T[make sthg. ⇔ out]] to prove by giving good reasons: I'm sure we can make out a case for allowing you a longer holiday this year. 5 [I] infml to succeed or advance, in business or life generally: The firm isn't making out as well as was hoped. | How did she make out at the interview? 6 [I;T(with)] AmE slang to kiss and touch another person in a sexual way: They were making out in the back of a car.
make sthg. ⇔ over phr v [T] 1 [(to)] to pass over to someone else, especially legally: He made over his estate to
his son before he died. 2 especially AmE to remake; ALTER: They're going to make the whole thing over. | make over a dress → see also MAKEOVER
make towards sthg. phr v [T no pass.] fml to move in the direction of; MAKE FOR: traffic making towards the city in the morning
make up phr v 1 [T[make sthg. ⇔ up]] to invent (a story, a poem, an excuse etc), often in order to deceive → see also MADE-UP 2 [I;T(= make sbdy./sthg. ⇔ up)] to use special paint and powder on (someone or a part of someone's body, especially the face) so as to change or improve the appearance: She never goes out without making herself up first. | They made him up as an old man for the last act of the play. → see also MAKE-UP, MAKE-UP 3 [T[make sthg. ⇔ up]] to prepare, arrange, or put together ready for use: The chemist made up the doctor's prescription/a bottle of medicine. | I can make up a bed for you on the floor. | I'm making up a parcel of old clothes for the jumble sale. 4 [T[make sthg. ⇔ up]] to form as a whole; CONSTITUTE: Farming and mining make up most of the country's industry. | The committee is made up of representatives from all the universities. → see also MAKE-UP 5 [T[into](make sthg. ⇔ up)] to produce (something) from (material) by cutting and sewing: I've made up the curtains. | She made the material up into a dress. 6 [T[to](make sthg. ⇔ up)] to make (an amount or number) complete: They made up a four at tennis. | I'll make up the money (to the amount you need). 7 [T[make sthg. ⇔ up]] to repay or give (an amount) in return: You must make up what you owe before the end of the month. 8 [I;T(= make sthg. ⇔ up)(with)] to become friends again after (a quarrel): to kiss and make up after an argument | It's time you made it up with your sister. → see also make up one's mind (MIND) 9 [T[make sthg. up)] to do something after the time it was supposed to have been done: I have to make up all the work I missed while I was ill. | Will you be able to make up the test?
make up for sthg. phr v [T] to repay or COMPENSATE for (what was bad before) with something good: This beautiful autumn makes up for the wet summer. | We're working fast to try and make up for lost time. | [+v-ing] Nothing can make up for missing such a wonderful opportunity.
make up to phr v [T] 1 [(make up to sbdy.)] usually derog to try to gain the favour of by appearing friendly, pleasant, and full of praise: People only make up to him because of his wealth. 2 make it up to someone (for something) to repay someone with good things in return for something good they have done or to make up for something bad experienced by them: You've been so kind - I'll make it all up to you one day. | I do apologize for all the inconvenience this has caused - I'll make it up to you somehow.
make with sthg. phr v [T] slang especially AmE to produce; bring: I'm hungry; make with the dinner!
make² n 1 [(of)] a type of product, especially as produced by a particular maker: This watch keeps going wrong; I wish I'd bought a better make. | What make (of car) is this? 2 on the make derog a) actively trying to gain personal profit or advantage b) trying to obtain a sexual experience with someone
Brand and make can have similar meanings, but brand is usually used only with small or inexpensive things. Compare What brand of toothpaste/soap powder do you use? and What make of computer did you buy?
Make-A-'Wish Foun,dation, the a US CHARITY organization that helps children who are extremely ill get something that they want very much. Make-a-Wish has helped some children meet their favourite musicians, play sports with a famous team, or travel to another country or state.
'make-be,lieve n [U] a state of pretending; believing things that have no connection with reality, especially things that one would like to be true: She lives in a world of make-believe if she thinks she can get to college without working hard. → see also make believe (MAKE¹)
,make-or-'break adj leading to either success or failure: This could be a make-or-break speech for the prime minister.
make-o-ver /'meɪkəʊvə/ n a new haircut and usually new MAKE-UP and clothes so that one looks different and usually better than before: This fashion magazine often has photographs of makeovers in it.
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