Dictionary: letter M
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+ | only common verbs here | any verb with many examples inmake after [make after someone] (insep) chase
- They made after him but couldn't catch him.
- The dog made after the cat but it managed to escape by climbing a tree.
make away (insep) escape make off
- They managed to make away after all.
make away with [make away with something] (insep) (jewels, money) steal and take away make off with
- They made away with the stolen jewels.
- We got robbed and they made away with my wallet.
make for 1 (insep) move towards a place, usually in a hurry head for
- They made for the door.
- He made for the toilet as soon as we got home.
2 (insep) produce or contribute to something in some way
- The minister's speech makes for greater optimism.
- His constant lies don't make for a good relationship.
- His brilliant explanation makes for a better understanding of the whole issue.
make into [make into something] change into something else turn into
- The idea is to make the building into flats.
make off (insep) leave a place in a hurry
- Overpowering the guard, the thief made off with the money and the guard's gun.
make out (insep) pretend something is true
- He made out he was an expert in the field but it was clear he didn't know what he was talking about.
make out 1 [make something out] (sign, writing) manage to understand or see
- I couldn't quite make out the writing on the package.
- You can barely make out the sign in the distance.
2 (cheque, bill, invoice, tax return, shopping list) write or complete write out
- Please make out the cheque to CMM Intelligence Ltd.
- Please make out the invoice to the company.
3 (insep) kiss and hug in a sexual way
- Bill and Suzy were making out in front of the television.
- Tristian had seen him outside the club before they entered, making out with a pretty girl
make up 1 [make something up] invent
- The story she told you wasn't true. She just made it up.
2 [make up, make it up] become friends again
- They've kissed and made up after their earlier fight.
- We finally made up after years of hatred and I learned how to forgive him.
- At the end of the story, they finally made it up with each other.
3 apply cosmetics; put make-up on your face
- She always took time to make up her face carefully.
3 compose; form
- These committees are made up of experts nominated by the Member States.
idiom make it up to you compensate someone after treating them badly I'm going to make it up to you.
idiom make up your mind make a decision. I've already made my mind up. There's nothing more to say.
make up for (insep) make a bad situation better compensating for it somehow
- I knew that I was going to have to work very hard in order to make up for lost time.
- I hurt you but I'm trying to make up for it.
- Is there any way I can make up for it?
max out [max something out] (credit card) use all the available money or reach some kind of limit
- I gave him my credit card number and he maxed out the card.
measure up to [measure up to something] (insep) (standard, description, expectations, responsibilities) reach or fulfill or be as good as someone/something else
- Never mind that he won the Pulitzer and the Nobel. He just doesn't measure up to the giants of his time - Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald.
mess about (insep) waste your time doing something silly or not doing anything at all muck about
- It was bliss just messing about, eating, exploring and, most important of all, talking.
mess up [mess up, mess something up] (insep) do badly or break
- It was so bad that, when the surgeon admitted he'd messed up on my nose and wanted to fix it again, I said no way.
miss out [miss out, miss out on something] (insep) (chance, celebrations, opportunity) not do something that you might enjoy
- Don't miss out on this chance to see them live!
mix up 1 [mix something up] confuse muddle up
- I was supposed to see my counselor on Saturday, but I mixed up the times and its actually this coming Saturday.
- Unfortunately, the bank had mixed him up with another customer who had the same surname and initials.
2 mix together.
- First, you should mix up a little packet of yeast with one cup of warm water.
mount up (insep) (bills, costs, expenses, work) increase in amount or accumulate
- It's important to do something about it now, rather than let bills mount up.
mouth off (insep) complain loudly showing no respect
- Be careful about mouthing off and voicing those opinions.
- Who the heck does this guy think he is mouthing off like this?
move away (insep) leave a place to live somewhere else
- I had a crush on her, but she moved away during the semester and I never got to see her ever again.
move back (insep) return to where you used to live after spending time living in a different place
- She wants to move back to her hometown.
- I decided to stop paying rent in a crappy place and move back to my family home.
move in (insep) start living in a new house
- There had been reports they had moved in together, but it isn't true.
- I was dreading telling my dad I was moving in with Paul.
- You can move in when you've paid the deposit.
move on (insep) leave behind or stop doing something and do something else instead
- Come on, it's all history now. It's time we all moved on.
- Lee has now moved on to work for a small tech company that makes routers or something like that.
move out (insep) stop living in a particular place and start living somewhere else
- He used to share a flat with Bill but they argued a lot so he moved out.
- She lost contact with her childhood friends when she moved out of the area.
mow down [mow someone down] drive a vehicle into someone and kill them
- Police are on the hunt for a hit-and-run driver who fatally mowed down a man.
- A speeding car mowed down a pedestrian and injured six others on Monday.
- I almost mowed down a pedestrian tonight.
muck about (insep) waste your time doing something silly or not doing anything at all muck about
- Since I spend all day in work doing serious stuff with computers it's a joy to just muck about when at home.
- I've been mucking about all day long.
muck in (insep, informal) give a hand; help
- Prince William is reaching the end of 10 weeks of voluntary work in remote Patagonia, earning the respect of his peers by mucking in with the rest.
muddle up [muddle something up] confuse mix up
- We got muddled up between you and your twin sister and did not realise we'd made a mistake until it was too late.
mull over [mull something over] (decision, things, question, suggestion, issue) think about or discuss very carefully chew over, think over
- Company executives are mulling over what to do with the contaminated building.
muscle in (insep) get involved in something when other people don't want you there
- We had a dinner party before Christmas and he muscled in on that.
- The gang muscled in on the city's illegal liquor trade.
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