elope with a person: He readily admitted that he had made off with the wife of French publisher Victor Bohain. make one’s own way • make one’s way make one’s own way—follow one’s inclinations; act inde- pendently: He wanted to find a new direction but could find no clues in contemporary art and had to make his own way . make one’s way—1. proceed forward, especially with diffi- culty: As soon as he saw us, Henry made his way through the crowd to greet us personally. 2. make good progress; achieve success: But David was not discouraged: he was young, enthu- siastic, determined to make his way . 3. (of a custom, tradition, etc.) become generally accepted: The papers don’t yet talk of it, but the idea is making its way into even the best-balanced minds. make out a prescription • make up a prescription make out a prescription—(of a doctor) fill out a written order for a medicine: Many over-the-counter drugs are very difficult to get in other countries, so have your doctor make out a pre - scription as a precaution. make up a prescription—(of a chemist) prepare a mixture such as medicine: Physicians are not allowed to sell medicines to their patients, except when the pharmacist refuses to make up a prescription . make out someone • make out with someone make out someone—1. manage to see a person, especially in the distance or in the dark: He thought that he could make out a human figure lying at the bottom of the pit. 2. (also: figure out someone) understand smb.’s character; find an expla- nation for a person’s behavior: What a queer fellow he is! I can’t make him out at all. make out with someone —(coll.) get on with a person (usually implying difficulty): How are you making out with the people in your new office? make over someone • make someone over make over someone—(coll.) pay a lot of attention to smb.; make a fuss over a person: Why does she make over your sister so much? make someone over—change a person’s appearance: The hairstylist tried to make Carla over , but she wanted to be the way she had always been. make over something • make something over make over something—(coll.) pay a lot of attention to smth.; make a fuss over smth.: Aunt Jane made over the wedding gifts as if they were for her instead of Susan. make something over—remake or refashion smth.: I’ll have to make this dress over , it’s all the wrong shape. See also: do something over / overdo something. make play with something • play about with something make play with something—make effective use of smth.: Clever politicians make play with the subject for their own ends, and the general result is confusion, extravagance, and injustice. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make a play for something—make a conspicuous at- tempt to gain or acquire smth.: Tony is left to decide whether he will make a play for the top job in the family or concede control to his uncle. play about with something—(also: play around with some- thing ) 1. amuse oneself manipulating smth. (to explore its pos- sibilities): I’ve been playing about with my camera a lot recently, as such I’ve got lots of pictures to share. 2. cause dis- order to smth.; interfere with smth.: I recently moved my bed into the living room because of the cold and it has been playing about with my sleep. See also: make a big play of something / make great game of something. make someone open his eyes • make someone open his eyes wide make someone open his eyes—1. make smb. stare in surprise; amaze a person greatly: It really makes me open my eyes in amazement when people think it is impossible to live like this. 2. cause a person to realize smth.; make smb. see reason: It was the humiliation in Adelaide that made them open their eyes and realize the mess that they were in. make someone open his eyes wide— = make someone open his eyes 1: From behind, at the back of the chapel, came a voice, one that made him open his eyes wide in surprise. make someone’s blood boil • make someone’s blood freeze make someone’s blood boil—make smb. very angry or indig- nant: It used to make my blood boil to think that such things couldn’t be prevented. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase warm someone’s blood—(also: warm someone’s heart) make a person feel eager or excited: The real estate section of the paper did not excite his envy or warm his blood . He had never wanted a country estate. b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase keep someone on the boil—sustain smb.’s interest or enthusiasm: There needs to be some ongoing process to keep the issues be- fore people, keep them on the boil , keep up the enthusiasm. make someone’s blood freeze—(also: make someone’s blood run cold) horrify or shock a person: What he saw made his blood freeze : An arrow had hit Lighur directly into the forehead. make sport for someone • make sport of someone make sport for someone—provide amusement for a person: The squire made sport for the children of the village by engag- ing a Circus for the week. make sport of someone—ridicule smb.; jest at a person: We made sport of the old couple who kept the Bull; and they deserved it for always giving short measures. make the feathers fly • make the fur fly make the feathers fly —(coll.) 1. (also: make the dust fly) start working with the utmost vigor: When Mrs. Hale did her spring cleaning she made the feathers fly . 2. quarrel violently; create a disturbance: Let’s keep our sense of humor and try not to make the feathers fly in all this controversy. make the fur fly— = make the feathers fly 2: When the boss finds out that they failed to secure the contract, he will cer- tainly make the fur fly . make time for someone • make time with someone make time for someone—schedule time to see a person: She makes time for kids who are less fortunate, visiting sick chil- dren in hospitals in the cities where she competes. make time with someone—(coll.) make romantic advances; flirt with a person: John plays the tough guy who tries to make time with the café cashier, whom Buster secretly loves. make up for someone • make up on someone • make up to someone • make up with someone make up for someone—take the place of smb. who is absent, can’t work, etc.: Have you got a supply of new friends to make up for those who are gone? make up on someone—(Sport) gain on a contestant who is ahead of one in a race: He managed to make up on other run- ners in the race. make one’s own way – 232 –