M -Idioms
mad as a hatter
- crazy
My neighbor is mad as a hatter and we never know what she will do next.
mad as a hornet
- very angry
Our boss was mad as a hornet when we saw him at the meeting yesterday.
made for each other
- two people are very well suited romantically
The young couple are made for each other and seem to be very happy.
made to measure
- made especially to fit the measurements of someone
When I was working in Hong Kong I purchased several suits that were made to measure.
made to order
- put together on request
My father decided to buy a new computer desk that was made to order.
maiden voyage
- the first voyage of a ship or boat
The maiden voyage of the new cruise ship was popular with many people.
the main drag
- the most important street in a town
We spent Saturday evening driving up and down the main drag of the town.
make Idioms make a bed
- arrange the sheets and blankets of a bed neatly
My mother always told me to make my bed when I was a child.
make a beeline for (someone or something)
- hurry directly toward someone or something
When I enter the cafeteria I always make a beeline for the dessert section.
make a big deal about (something)
- exaggerate the seriousness of something
I wish that my friend would not make a big deal about every small problem.
make a break for (something/somewhere)
- move or run quickly to something or somewhere
The audience made a break for the doors as soon as the concert was over.
make a bundle/pile
- make a lot of money
My father made a bundle on the stock market several years ago.
make a check out (to someone)
- write a check to give to someone with their name on it
I made a check out to the animal hospital after they cared for our dog.
make a clean breast of (something)
- confess something bad that you have done in order not to feel guilty/bad
The woman made a clean breast of things and worked hard to start over.
make a clean sweep of (something)
- do something completely or thoroughly
The new political party made a clean sweep of the large cities during the election.
make a comeback
- return to one's former (successful) career
The boxer has been training very hard in his attempt to make a comeback.
make a day of it
- do something all day
We decided to make a day of it and spend the day at the beach.
make a dent in (something)
- make progress doing something
We worked hard all day but we didn`t make a dent in the amount of work left to do.
make a difference
- cause a change in a situation
It doesn`t make a difference whether he comes to the meeting or not.
make a face (at someone)
- make a strange face to ridicule someone
The little girl made a face at the boy in her class.
make a fast/quick buck
- make money with little effort
The two men tried to make a fast buck during the construction boom.
make a fool out of (someone)
- make someone look foolish
The secretary made a fool out of her boss when she argued with him at the meeting.
make a fuss (over someone or something)
- worry about or make a bother about someone or something
My grandmother always makes a fuss over me when I go to visit her.
make a go of (something)
- succeed at something, produce good results
Although he tried hard he was never able to make a go of his business.
make a great show of (something)
- do something in a showy fashion
The woman made a great show of telling everybody about her new and rich boyfriend.
make a hit
- be successful
Her cake made a hit at the party.
make a killing
- make a large amount of money
Her mother made a killing on the real estate market before she retired.
make a laughingstock of (someone)
- do something that makes people laugh at someone
I made a laughingstock of myself when I dropped the plate of crackers at the party.
make a living
- earn enough money to live
He cannot make a living by only doing a part-time job.
make a long story short
- bring a story to an end by omitting some details
I had to make a long story short in order to finish my story and leave to catch my train home.
make a meal of (something)
- eat one main dish/food as an entire meal
We were able to make a meal of the chicken that my mother gave us last night.
make a mistake
- make an error
I made a mistake on the math test.
make a mountain out of a molehill
- make a big problem out of a small problem
He is making a mountain out of a molehill by worrying about his son`s problem.
make a name for oneself
- become well-known or famous
He has made a name for himself in the field of computers.
make a night/evening of (doing something)
- do something for the entire night/evening
We decided to stay home and make a night of playing cards.
make a note of (something)
- to write something on a piece of paper
I made a note of the people that I was going to phone on the weekend.
make a nuisance of oneself
- be a constant bother
I didn't phone the apartment manager to complain about the sink because I didn't want to make a nuisance of myself.
make a pass at (someone)
- make romantic advances to someone
The man was fired because he made a pass at one of the women who he works with.
make a pitch (for someone or something)
- attempt to promote/sell/advance someone or something
The city made a pitch for more money from other levels of government to help build a new sports stadium.
make a play for (someone)
- try to make someone romantically interested in you
I worked hard all term to make a play for a woman in my computer class.
make a point
- state something important
The speaker used some good examples in order to make a point during his speech.
make a point of (doing/saying something)
- do or say something with a definite intent
He always makes a point of visiting his aunt when he is in town.
make a practice of (something)
- turn something into a habit
I make a practice of going to bed at 11:00 PM every evening.
make a reservation
- reserve a seat in an airplane/restaurant etc. in advance
I phoned the airline last night so that I could make a reservation.
make a run for it
- dash for safety, make a quick escape
I made a run for it as soon as the class finished.
make a scene
- make a public display or disturbance
The woman made a scene in the supermarket when she saw the liquid soap on the floor.
make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
- create something valuable out of something of no value
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and the fact is that the woman is not a good singer and will probably never sing in the choir.
make a stink (about something)
- make a major issue out of something
The woman went to the store to make a stink about the broken CD player that she had bought.
make an all-out effort
- make a big effort
The police made an all-out effort to discover who had robbed the three banks.
make an appearance
- appear somewhere, appear in a performance
The famous actor made an appearance at the party for the politician.
make an appointment (with someone)
- schedule a meeting with someone
I made an appointment with my dentist to have my teeth checked.
make an example of (someone)
- make a public issue out of someone's bad behavior
The teacher punished the student severely in order to make an example of him for the other students.
make an exception (for someone)
- suspend a rule for someone for one time
The security guard made an exception for me and allowed me to enter the parking lot after it was closed.
make an impression (on someone)
- produce a memorable effect on someone
The elderly man made an impression on me and I was very sad when I heard that he had died.
make an issue of (something)
- turn something into an important matter
Our supervisor often tries to make an issue of events that are not important at all.
make allowances for (someone or something)
- allow extra time for someone or something, make excuses for someone or something
We had to make allowances for the fact that the new employee was very slow.
make amends for (something)
- do something to compensate for an error/injury/loss
I was forced to do some extra work to make amends for my mistake of last week.
make arrangements for (someone or something)
- make plans for someone or something
We made arrangements for a small wedding for my cousin.
make as if (to do something)
- act as if one were about to do something
The driver made as if he was going to turn right but he actually turned left.
make away with (something)
- take or carry away something
The cat made away with the fish that was sitting on top of the kitchen counter.
make believe
- act as if something is true although one knows that it is not, pretend
The children were playing make believe and pretended that they lived in a castle.
make book on (something)
- make or accept bets on something
The gamblers were planning to make book on the coming election.
make cracks (about someone or something)
- ridicule or make jokes about someone or something
The radio announcer made cracks about the famous athlete during the interview.
make do with (something)
- substitute one thing for another
If there is no cream for the coffee we will have to make do with milk.
make ends meet
- be able to live on the money that one has
It is hard to make ends meet on his salary.
make eyes at (someone)
- flirt with someone, look at someone to try and attract them
The boy was making eyes at the girl in his history class.
make for (someone or somewhere)
- go/start toward someone or somewhere
As soon as it began to get dark we decided to make for a quiet place to camp.
make free with (someone or something)
- take advantage or use something as if it were one's own
My roommate always makes free with my clothes which I don't like at all.
make friends
- form friendships with people or animals
She is shy and is not able to make friends easily.
make fun of (someone or something)
- ridicule someone or something
The students were making fun of the girl with the short hair.
make good money
- earn a large amount of money
My friend is able to make good money selling computer equipment in the evenings.
make good on (something)
- fulfill a promise, make something come true. repay a debt
Our boss made good on his promise to give everyone a raise in the new year.
make good time
- be successful in arriving at a destination in a short time or quicker than you expected
We made good time yesterday and arrived home before it got dark.
make hay while the sun shines
- do something at the right time, take advantage of an opportunity
You should make hay while the sun shines and paint the house while the weather is good.
not make head nor tail of (something)
- not be able to understand something
We could not make head nor tail of what he was trying to say during his speech.
make it
- succeed
The woman worked hard and was able to make it in the publishing industry.
make (it/an event)
- attend an event
I was feeling sick so I was not able to make the monthly meeting of our club.
make it as far as
- travel as far as somewhere, endure something until you must stop
We made it as far as the city limits before our car began to have problems.
make it hot for (someone)
- make things difficult for someone
The questions from the reporters were making it hot for the city council member.
make it one's business to (do something)
- do something even if you may interfere in something that does not directly concern you
The mother always makes it her business to know exactly what her children are doing.
make it up to (someone)
- do something for someone to compensate for an unfulfilled promise or debt
I can`t help you tonight but I will make it up to you later.
make it worth (someone's) while to do (something)
- make something profitable enough for someone to do
Our company always makes it worth our while to work on Saturday evenings.
make life miserable for (someone)
- make someone unhappy over a long period of time
The manager of the apartment made life miserable for the young couple with the baby.
make light of (something)
- treat something as not being important, minimize something
My friend made light of my efforts to learn how to speak and write Chinese.
make little of (someone or something)
- minimize someone or something, belittle someone or something
My friend often makes little of the fact that he borrows money and then does not pay it back quickly.
make merry
- have fun, laugh and celebrate
We decided to go to a nice restaurant and make merry for the evening.
make mincemeat out of (someone)
- beat someone up
The boxer made mincemeat out of his opponent during the boxing match.
make mischief
- cause trouble
The young boy seemed to enjoy the fact that he could make mischief whenever he wanted.
make no bones about (something)
- make no secret of something, have no doubts about something
I made no bones about the fact that I am not interested in applying for the supervisor`s job.
make no difference to (someone)
- not to matter to someone, not to care (about something)
It makes no difference to me if we go to the movie on Friday or on Saturday.
make no mistake (about something)
- have no doubt about something, be certain about something
I told the man to make no mistake about the fact that he was not permitted to park his car in our parking area.
make nothing of (something)
- ignore something as if it had not happened
The woman made nothing of the fact that she almost hit a woman in the parking lot.
make of (someone or something)
- think or have an opinion about someone or something
"What do you make of the new manager in accounting."
make off with (someone or something)
- take someone or something away
The thief made off with a new television set from the store.
make one`s bed and lie in it
- be responsible for what you have done and accept the results of your actions
"You quit your job and now you have no money. You made your bed and now you must lie in it."
make one`s blood boil
- become very angry
Every time that I see that man he makes my blood boil.
make one`s feelings known
- to reveal one's feelings about something
My friend made her feelings known about her desire not to attend the dinner.
make one`s hair stand on end
- frighten/horrify someone
The horror movie that we saw last week made my hair stand on end.
make one`s own way
- rely on one`s own abilities
His father wants him to join the family business but he wants to make his own way and do something different.
make oneself at home
- relax and act as if you were at home
She always makes herself at home when she goes to visit her friends.
make oneself conspicuous
- attract attention to oneself
The man made himself conspicuous by wearing the pastel-colored sports jacket.
make oneself felt
- use one`s authority
He was able to make himself felt when he helped to resolve the conflict.
make oneself heard
- speak loudly so you will be heard above the noise
I had to speak loudly in order to make myself heard while the loud music was playing.
make oneself scarce
- leave quickly, go away
I think that I will make myself scarce and go to the beach for the day.
make or break (someone)
- either benefit or ruin someone
The new business venture will probably make or break my uncle.
make out
- to progress, to do well or not do well
"How did you make out at your job interview yesterday?"
make out (a report/application)
- fill out a report/application
I stayed out late last night in order to make out some reports for work.
make out (something)
- understand something by making an effort
I can never make out what my friend wants to say when he phones me.
make out (something)
- distinguish/identify something, manage to see or read something
The ship captain could not make out the name of the other boat because of the fog.
I was unable to make out the sign because I didn't have my glasses.
make out (something)
- make someone believe something, prove something
He made out that he was at the library last night but I know that he wasn`t.
make over (something)
- make something look different, change the style of something
We decided to make over our living room because we were tired of the old style.
make overtures to (someone)
- approach someone in a friendly way to begin talking about something or dealing with something, make a formal proposal or offer
The woman made overtures to her friend to try and solve some of their recent problems.
make peace with (someone)
- end a quarrel with someone
The two sisters were finally able to make peace with each other.
make points with (someone)
- gain favor with someone
I am sure that the woman is more interested in making points with her boss than doing a good job.
make room for (someone or something)
- arrange space for someone or something
We made room for the new computer in the spare room.
make sense
- seem reasonable
His new proposal really does make sense.
make sense out of (someone or something)
- understand or interpret someone or something
I tried very hard to make sense out of the terrible tragedy at the hotel.
make short work of (something)
- finish something quickly
He made short work of the typing and has started working on the other report.
make (someone or something) available to (someone)
- supply someone with someone or something
The company made a car available to the sales staff.
make (someone) eat crow
- cause someone to admit an error or retract a statement
I wanted the supervisor to eat crow and admit that she had made a mistake.
make (someone) look good
- cause someone to appear successful or competent
The new sales contract that I had won made me look good.
make (someone) look ridiculous
- make someone look foolish
The complaint from my coworker made me look ridiculous.
make (someone) sick
- disgust someone
The attitude of the woman next door makes me sick.
make (someone's) blood run cold
- shock or horrify someone
The sight of the injured family in the car accident made my blood run cold.
make (someone's) flesh crawl
- cause someone's skin to feel funny
The movie was very violent and it made my flesh crawl.
make (someone's) hair stand on end
- cause someone to be very frightened
The sound of the screaming woman made my hair stand on end.
make (someone's) head spin
- make someone confused or overwhelmed, make someone dizzy
The numbers and information that I had to learn in the accounting course made my head spin.
make (someone`s) mouth water
- make someone want to eat something because of the thought or smell of the food
It made my mouth water when I looked at the menu.
make (someone's) position clear
- clarify where someone stands on an issue
The politician made his position clear on the issue of taxes.
make (something) from scratch
- make something by starting with the basic ingredients
We made the soup from scratch.
make (something) out of nothing
- make an issue out of something of little importance
My friend always wants to make something out of nothing and fights with everyone.
make (something) right/good
- replace or restore something
I worked hard to make my relationship with my friend right.
make (something) to order
- make something only when someone requests it
The construction company must make many parts for their equipment to order.
make (something) up to (someone)
- repay someone, make amends to someone
I was late for work so I had to make it up to my boss by working late.
make (something) worth (someone's) while
- make something profitable enough for someone to do
I made it worth my friend's while to help me move by buying him dinner.
make sure
- to make certain, to establish something without a doubt
I want to make sure that my friend is going to meet me tomorrow.
make the best of (something)
- do as well as possible in a bad situation
He made the best of his time working in the department that he hated.
make the grade
- succeed, qualify for something
He was not able to make the grade and could not join the football team.
make the most of (something)
- use something to one's greatest advantage
He made the most of his time in Europe and visited many art galleries.
make the scene
- be present, go to a certain place or event
He decided to make the scene and go to the disco for the evening.
make time for (someone or something)
- schedule time to see someone or do something
The man makes time for his son every weekend so that they can play sports together.
make time with (someone)
- flirt with someone
The man was trying to make time with the waitress in the restaurant.
make up for lost time
- do something quickly (because you wasted time before)
We wasted several days before we started to prepare for our holiday so we had to work hard to make up for lost time.
make up for (something)
- compensate for a loss or mistake
I have to work hard in order to make up for last year's poor sales.
make up one's face
- put on cosmetics
She always wants to make up her face before she goes to the store.
make up one`s mind
- decide something
I haven`t made up my mind about whether or not I will accept the new job.
make up (something)
- make something by putting things or parts together
We made up the new machine by using parts from old machines.
A car is made up of many different parts.
make up (something/a story/an excuse)
- invent a story, think and say something that is not true
She made up the story about how she got lost in the mountains.
make up (something/money/time)
- do or supply something that is lacking, regain/repay something
I had to make up the time that I was sick by working on Saturday.
make up (with someone)
- become friends again after a quarrel
The girl made up with her friend after their fight last week.
make use of (someone or something)
- use someone or something
I made use of my friends garage to keep some of my tools.
make waves
- create a disturbance
He is very quiet at work and does not like to make waves.
make way for (someone or something)
- to stand aside, to move so someone or something can pass by
The truck went to the side of the road to make way for the ambulance.
.
a man-about-town
- a fashionable man who leads a sophisticated life
My friend is a man-about-town and goes out almost every evening.
man in the street
- an average or ordinary person
According to the man in the street the government is not very popular.
man-to-man
- frank or honest, direct
I had a man-to-man talk with my friend about his problem last night.
many is the time
- on many occasions
Many is the time that I have sat at home waiting for a phone call that never came.
march to (the beat of) a different drummer
- believe in a different set of principles
My friend marches to the beat of a different drummer and always does what he thinks is the right thing to do.
mark Idioms
mark down (a price)
- lower the price of something
The store decided to mark down the prices of their winter coats.
mark down (something)
- make a note about something
The traffic policeman marked down all of the cars that were parked illegally.
mark my word(s)
- remember what I'm telling you
"Mark my words, if you do not finish your homework project you are not going to go out this weekend."
mark time
- be idle, wait for something to happen
He has been marking time for over a month now as he waits to hear about the new job.
mark time (to music)
- move one`s feet up and down to music
He was marking time to the music as he was driving his car.
mark up (a price)
- raise the price of something
The store marked up the price of the camping equipment at the beginning of the summer.
mark up (something)
- mess something up with marks
The child marked up the new table that her parents had just bought.
.
a marvel to behold
- someone or something quite wonderful or exciting to see
The new bridge was a marvel to behold and many tourists came to look at it.
a match for (someone)
- equal to someone in a contest
The German soccer team was a match for the Brazilian team.
to matter
- to be important
It does not matter if you come to work late tomorrow.
a matter of course
- the usual way/habit/rule
Things were done as a matter of course and nobody thought about the results.
a matter of fact
- something that can be proved and is true
It was a matter of fact that no taxes were paid by the company last year.
a matter-of-fact manner/way
- simply telling or showing the truth, seeming not to care much
The witness described the murder in a matter-of-fact way.
as a matter of fact
- used to emphasize that something is true or actually happened
"As a matter of fact, I saw him last night and he asked me how you were."
a matter of life and death
- an issue of great urgency
It was a matter of life and death to rescue the young boy from the water quickly.
a matter of opinion
- a question about which there are different opinions
It was a matter of opinion as to what design would be best for the new art gallery.
to mean business
- to be serious, to be ready to take action
He is working very hard and means business when he says that he is going to get the office organized.
to mean for (someone) to (do something)
- intend for someone to do something
I mean for my friend to get the free ticket and not anyone else.
to mean nothing to (someone)
- have no effect or feeling for someone
My uncle is very wealthy and to lose money in a business transaction means nothing to him.
to mean (something) to (someone)
- have an effect or feeling for someone
I always tell my mother about my job situation because it means a lot to her.
to mean to (do something)
- plan or intend to do something
I always mean to go to a movie but I never have enough time.
mean well
- to have good intentions, to try to be kind and helpful
Although the woman means well, she always seems to cause herself many problems.
meant to be
- destined to exist/happen
It was not meant to be that I would win some money in the lottery.
measure up to (someone or something)
- be equal to someone or something, be of the same quality as someone or something
The new accounting manager does not measure up to the previous accounting manager.
meat and potatoes
- basic and strong, have simple tastes in food and other things
My friend's taste in food and life is one of a basic meat-and-potatoes approach.
a Mecca for (something)
- a place that is popular with people for some reason (from the city of Mecca which is the religious center of Islam)
The small area of lakes is a Mecca for people who like to fish.
meet Idioms
meet one's end/death
- die
The elderly man met his death in an accident while walking across the street.
meet one's match
- meet one's equal
Our team met their match when they had to play the best team in the city.
meet one's Waterloo
- meet one's final and most insurmountable challenge (Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo)
The team met their Waterloo when they went to the tournament to meet the best teams in the country.
meet (someone) half-way
- make a compromise with someone
He is very stubborn and is never willing to meet his friends half-way.
meet the requirements (for something)
- fulfill the requirements for something
The new nurse does not meet the requirements to be a nurse in our hospital.
meet up with (someone or something)
- meet someone or something by accident or without expecting to
The young man met up with a nice group of people while he was traveling in Australia.
.
a meeting of minds
- complete agreement
The members of our group had a meeting of minds and we all decided to go to a movie.
melt in one`s mouth
- taste very good, taste delicious
The pastry that my grandmother made melted in my mouth.
mend fences with (someone)
- do something to repair a relationship after a fight or other problem
I made an effort to mend fences with my friend after our recent fight.
mend one`s ways
- improve one`s habits
The woman was forced to mend her ways in order to do better at work.
mention (someone or something) in passing
- mention someone or something casually
I mentioned a friend of mine in passing when I was talking to my father.
mess around/about
- to play around or engage in idle activity
The children were messing around in the school yard before the class began.
mess up
- cause trouble, spoil something
He messed up his chance to get a promotion by not making any effort during the year.
middle of the road
- halfway between two different ideas, seeing good on both sides of an issue
The mayor was elected because his ideas were very middle of the road.
might as well
- be somewhat preferable to do something
"We might as well go home now. I don`t think he will come."
a milestone in someone's life
- a very important event or point in one's life
The high school graduation ceremony was a milestone in the young woman's life.
the milk of human kindness
- natural kindness and sympathy shown to others
The woman who volunteered at the hospital was full of the milk of human kindness.
milk (someone) for (something)
- pressure someone into giving information or money
The boy was milking his friend for as much money as he could.
a millstone around (someone's) neck
- a continual burden or handicap
The empty store was a millstone around the neck of the small businessman.
mince (one's) words
- make one's statement weaker by choosing weak or polite words
I tried not to mince my words when I went to ask my neighbor to keep quiet.
mind one's manners
- be careful to use good manners
I was asked to mind my manners when I was serving myself food at the buffet table.
mind one's own business
- attend only to the things that concern one
I asked my friend to mind his own business when he asked me about my problems with my father.
mind one`s P`s and Q`s
- be very careful about what one does or says
You should mind your P`s and Q`s and not say anything to offend your aunt.
mind the store
- take care of local matters
My sister stayed home to mind the store when the rest of the family went away for the weekend.
Mind you
- I want you to notice and understand something
I don`t want to work any more overtime. Mind you, if there is an emergency I will be happy to work extra hours.
a mine of information
- someone or something that is full of information
The old man was a mine of information when we were writing about the history of the town.
a miscarriage of justice
- a wrong or mistaken decision (in a court of law)
Everybody thought that the light sentence that the murderer received was a miscarriage of justice.
misplace one's trust in (someone)
- put trust in someone who does not deserve it
The company misplaced their trust in the manager who caused them many legal problems.
miss by a mile
- fail to hit or do something by a great distance/amount
The soccer player seemed almost certain to score a goal but actually she missed by a mile.
miss out on (something)
- lose an opportunity
He missed out on the new job because he was late for the interview.
miss the boat
- lose an opportunity
You had better hurry and get your application in or you will miss the boat and not get the job that you want.
miss the point
- fail to understand the important part of something
My friend was missing the point when we tried to explain why he shouldn't do what he was doing.
mistake (someone or something) for (someone or something) else
- to think that someone or something is someone or something else
I mistook my friend's sister for someone else when I went to the airport.
I often mistake one car for another car when I see them on the street.
mix and match
- assemble a limited number of items (often clothing) in a number of different ways
There was a sale at the department store where we could mix and match the various summer outfits.
to mix it up
- to argue or fight
The two groups of young men were mixing it up outside of the school yard.
to mix up (something)
- to confuse things, to make a mistake about something
The teacher mixed up the DVDs and played the wrong one in front of the class.
a mix-up
- an error, confusion
There was a mix-up at the airline ticket counter and I was given the wrong ticket.
a mixed bag
- a varied collection of people or things
The festival promoters presented a mixed bag of musical styles at the summer music festival.
(get or become) mixed up
- become confused
He gets mixed up when he tries to speak French.
the moment of truth
- the point where someone has to face the reality of a situation
The moment of truth for the sprinter came when the final qualifying race for the Olympics began.
Money is no object
- the cost of something is not important
Money is no object and we have decided to go on a luxury cruise this summer.
Money is the root of all evil
- money is the basic cause of all wrongdoing
Many people believe that money is the root of all evil and causes most problems in the world.
Money talks
- money gives one power and influence
Money talks and whenever the wealthy banker goes to his favorite restaurant, he gets the best table available.
money to burn
- much money, more money than is needed
My friend has money to burn and never has to worry about working.
monkey around (with someone or something)
- play with or waste time with someone or something
I spent the morning monkeying around with my new computer.
monkey business
- mischief
The kids were involved in some monkey business when the window was broken.
monkey business
- unethical or illegal activity, cheating
The company was involved in some monkey business with the tax department and have hired a lawyer to defend themselves.
mop the floor up with (someone)
- beat up someone
The large gangster mopped the floor up with the young man.
mope around
- go about in a depressed state
The boy was forced to stay home and spent the morning moping around the house.
more Idioms
more and more
- increasingly, an increasing number
More and more people are buying laptop computers.
more dead than alive
- exhausted, near death
I felt more dead than alive when I returned from the hiking trip.
more fun than a barrel of monkeys
- very funny
My uncle is more fun than a barrel of monkeys and we love to visit him.
more often than not
- usually
More often than not we eat at home rather than go out.
more or less
- somewhat, to some extent
I more or less have decided to study business next year.
more (something) than one can shake a stick at
- a lot, too many to count
There were more ants than you could shake a stick at on the kitchen counter at the cottage.
more than one can bear/stand/take
- more trouble or other misfortune than one can endure
The constant barking of the dog is more than I can bear so I will go out for a walk to get away.
more than (someone) bargained for
- more than one thought one would get
The problems caused by the dishonest employee were more than the company bargained for.
the more the merrier
- the more people who join in the fun the better it will be
The more the merrier I thought as everyone went to the beach.
more to (something) than meets the eye
- hidden values or facts in something
There was more to the new contract than meets the eye and everyone was pleased with it.
.
the morning after (the night before)
- a hangover
He is not feeling well because it is the morning after the night before.
not move a muscle
- not move even a small amount
The doctor told me not to move a muscle when he was fixing my leg.
move heaven and earth (to do something)
- try every way, do everything one can to do something
I will move heaven and earth to help you get a job with our company.
move in on (someone or something)
- try to take over something that belongs to another
He was angry because the other salesman was moving in on his sales territory.
move into (something)
- get started in a new job or business
Our company has decided to move into the retail sales of computers.
move up (in the world)
- advance and become successful
The young man is working hard and is moving up in the world.
movers and shakers
- important people who get things done
The movers and shakers of the city went to the opening of the new art gallery.
much ado about nothing
- a lot of excitement about nothing
There was much ado about nothing over the small scandal in the city government.
much in evidence
- very visible or evident
The symphony musicians were much in evidence at the opening of the cultural center.
much sought after
- wanted or desired very much
Old fishing equipment is much sought after by collectors around the world.
muddy the water
- make matters confusing, make something less clear
The questions from the audience helped to muddy the water during the debate.
mull over (something)
- think about something carefully
I took much time to mull over the new job offer from our competitor.
mum`s the word
- say nothing of a secret that you know
"Mum`s the word on the party. I won`t tell anybody."
murder on (something)
- very destructive or harmful to something
My new shoes are murder on my feet.
muscle in on (someone or something)
- forcefully try to discipline someone or take over someone's property or business
The large supermarket was trying to muscle in on the territory of the small shops.
music to one`s ears
- something one likes to hear
When he told me that I could go to the sales convention in the summer it was music to my ears.
musical chairs
- the transfer of people in an organization into different jobs - especially each other`s jobs
They seem to be playing musical chairs at the company as people move from one position to another position.
a must have
- something that you must have
The new computer screens are a must have for computer users.
muster up the courage
- build up one's courage to do something
I plan to muster up the courage and ask the woman for a date.
my goodness/my God
- used to express surprise or shock
"My goodness," she said when she saw the small dog jump into the swimming pool.
my gut tells me
- my instincts tell me that something is as it is
My gut tells me that I am not going to get a new job soon.
my one and only
- one's spouse or girlfriend or boyfriend
My one and only will be home before dinner.
- crazy
My neighbor is mad as a hatter and we never know what she will do next.
mad as a hornet
- very angry
Our boss was mad as a hornet when we saw him at the meeting yesterday.
made for each other
- two people are very well suited romantically
The young couple are made for each other and seem to be very happy.
made to measure
- made especially to fit the measurements of someone
When I was working in Hong Kong I purchased several suits that were made to measure.
made to order
- put together on request
My father decided to buy a new computer desk that was made to order.
maiden voyage
- the first voyage of a ship or boat
The maiden voyage of the new cruise ship was popular with many people.
the main drag
- the most important street in a town
We spent Saturday evening driving up and down the main drag of the town.
make Idioms make a bed
- arrange the sheets and blankets of a bed neatly
My mother always told me to make my bed when I was a child.
make a beeline for (someone or something)
- hurry directly toward someone or something
When I enter the cafeteria I always make a beeline for the dessert section.
make a big deal about (something)
- exaggerate the seriousness of something
I wish that my friend would not make a big deal about every small problem.
make a break for (something/somewhere)
- move or run quickly to something or somewhere
The audience made a break for the doors as soon as the concert was over.
make a bundle/pile
- make a lot of money
My father made a bundle on the stock market several years ago.
make a check out (to someone)
- write a check to give to someone with their name on it
I made a check out to the animal hospital after they cared for our dog.
make a clean breast of (something)
- confess something bad that you have done in order not to feel guilty/bad
The woman made a clean breast of things and worked hard to start over.
make a clean sweep of (something)
- do something completely or thoroughly
The new political party made a clean sweep of the large cities during the election.
make a comeback
- return to one's former (successful) career
The boxer has been training very hard in his attempt to make a comeback.
make a day of it
- do something all day
We decided to make a day of it and spend the day at the beach.
make a dent in (something)
- make progress doing something
We worked hard all day but we didn`t make a dent in the amount of work left to do.
make a difference
- cause a change in a situation
It doesn`t make a difference whether he comes to the meeting or not.
make a face (at someone)
- make a strange face to ridicule someone
The little girl made a face at the boy in her class.
make a fast/quick buck
- make money with little effort
The two men tried to make a fast buck during the construction boom.
make a fool out of (someone)
- make someone look foolish
The secretary made a fool out of her boss when she argued with him at the meeting.
make a fuss (over someone or something)
- worry about or make a bother about someone or something
My grandmother always makes a fuss over me when I go to visit her.
make a go of (something)
- succeed at something, produce good results
Although he tried hard he was never able to make a go of his business.
make a great show of (something)
- do something in a showy fashion
The woman made a great show of telling everybody about her new and rich boyfriend.
make a hit
- be successful
Her cake made a hit at the party.
make a killing
- make a large amount of money
Her mother made a killing on the real estate market before she retired.
make a laughingstock of (someone)
- do something that makes people laugh at someone
I made a laughingstock of myself when I dropped the plate of crackers at the party.
make a living
- earn enough money to live
He cannot make a living by only doing a part-time job.
make a long story short
- bring a story to an end by omitting some details
I had to make a long story short in order to finish my story and leave to catch my train home.
make a meal of (something)
- eat one main dish/food as an entire meal
We were able to make a meal of the chicken that my mother gave us last night.
make a mistake
- make an error
I made a mistake on the math test.
make a mountain out of a molehill
- make a big problem out of a small problem
He is making a mountain out of a molehill by worrying about his son`s problem.
make a name for oneself
- become well-known or famous
He has made a name for himself in the field of computers.
make a night/evening of (doing something)
- do something for the entire night/evening
We decided to stay home and make a night of playing cards.
make a note of (something)
- to write something on a piece of paper
I made a note of the people that I was going to phone on the weekend.
make a nuisance of oneself
- be a constant bother
I didn't phone the apartment manager to complain about the sink because I didn't want to make a nuisance of myself.
make a pass at (someone)
- make romantic advances to someone
The man was fired because he made a pass at one of the women who he works with.
make a pitch (for someone or something)
- attempt to promote/sell/advance someone or something
The city made a pitch for more money from other levels of government to help build a new sports stadium.
make a play for (someone)
- try to make someone romantically interested in you
I worked hard all term to make a play for a woman in my computer class.
make a point
- state something important
The speaker used some good examples in order to make a point during his speech.
make a point of (doing/saying something)
- do or say something with a definite intent
He always makes a point of visiting his aunt when he is in town.
make a practice of (something)
- turn something into a habit
I make a practice of going to bed at 11:00 PM every evening.
make a reservation
- reserve a seat in an airplane/restaurant etc. in advance
I phoned the airline last night so that I could make a reservation.
make a run for it
- dash for safety, make a quick escape
I made a run for it as soon as the class finished.
make a scene
- make a public display or disturbance
The woman made a scene in the supermarket when she saw the liquid soap on the floor.
make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
- create something valuable out of something of no value
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and the fact is that the woman is not a good singer and will probably never sing in the choir.
make a stink (about something)
- make a major issue out of something
The woman went to the store to make a stink about the broken CD player that she had bought.
make an all-out effort
- make a big effort
The police made an all-out effort to discover who had robbed the three banks.
make an appearance
- appear somewhere, appear in a performance
The famous actor made an appearance at the party for the politician.
make an appointment (with someone)
- schedule a meeting with someone
I made an appointment with my dentist to have my teeth checked.
make an example of (someone)
- make a public issue out of someone's bad behavior
The teacher punished the student severely in order to make an example of him for the other students.
make an exception (for someone)
- suspend a rule for someone for one time
The security guard made an exception for me and allowed me to enter the parking lot after it was closed.
make an impression (on someone)
- produce a memorable effect on someone
The elderly man made an impression on me and I was very sad when I heard that he had died.
make an issue of (something)
- turn something into an important matter
Our supervisor often tries to make an issue of events that are not important at all.
make allowances for (someone or something)
- allow extra time for someone or something, make excuses for someone or something
We had to make allowances for the fact that the new employee was very slow.
make amends for (something)
- do something to compensate for an error/injury/loss
I was forced to do some extra work to make amends for my mistake of last week.
make arrangements for (someone or something)
- make plans for someone or something
We made arrangements for a small wedding for my cousin.
make as if (to do something)
- act as if one were about to do something
The driver made as if he was going to turn right but he actually turned left.
make away with (something)
- take or carry away something
The cat made away with the fish that was sitting on top of the kitchen counter.
make believe
- act as if something is true although one knows that it is not, pretend
The children were playing make believe and pretended that they lived in a castle.
make book on (something)
- make or accept bets on something
The gamblers were planning to make book on the coming election.
make cracks (about someone or something)
- ridicule or make jokes about someone or something
The radio announcer made cracks about the famous athlete during the interview.
make do with (something)
- substitute one thing for another
If there is no cream for the coffee we will have to make do with milk.
make ends meet
- be able to live on the money that one has
It is hard to make ends meet on his salary.
make eyes at (someone)
- flirt with someone, look at someone to try and attract them
The boy was making eyes at the girl in his history class.
make for (someone or somewhere)
- go/start toward someone or somewhere
As soon as it began to get dark we decided to make for a quiet place to camp.
make free with (someone or something)
- take advantage or use something as if it were one's own
My roommate always makes free with my clothes which I don't like at all.
make friends
- form friendships with people or animals
She is shy and is not able to make friends easily.
make fun of (someone or something)
- ridicule someone or something
The students were making fun of the girl with the short hair.
make good money
- earn a large amount of money
My friend is able to make good money selling computer equipment in the evenings.
make good on (something)
- fulfill a promise, make something come true. repay a debt
Our boss made good on his promise to give everyone a raise in the new year.
make good time
- be successful in arriving at a destination in a short time or quicker than you expected
We made good time yesterday and arrived home before it got dark.
make hay while the sun shines
- do something at the right time, take advantage of an opportunity
You should make hay while the sun shines and paint the house while the weather is good.
not make head nor tail of (something)
- not be able to understand something
We could not make head nor tail of what he was trying to say during his speech.
make it
- succeed
The woman worked hard and was able to make it in the publishing industry.
make (it/an event)
- attend an event
I was feeling sick so I was not able to make the monthly meeting of our club.
make it as far as
- travel as far as somewhere, endure something until you must stop
We made it as far as the city limits before our car began to have problems.
make it hot for (someone)
- make things difficult for someone
The questions from the reporters were making it hot for the city council member.
make it one's business to (do something)
- do something even if you may interfere in something that does not directly concern you
The mother always makes it her business to know exactly what her children are doing.
make it up to (someone)
- do something for someone to compensate for an unfulfilled promise or debt
I can`t help you tonight but I will make it up to you later.
make it worth (someone's) while to do (something)
- make something profitable enough for someone to do
Our company always makes it worth our while to work on Saturday evenings.
make life miserable for (someone)
- make someone unhappy over a long period of time
The manager of the apartment made life miserable for the young couple with the baby.
make light of (something)
- treat something as not being important, minimize something
My friend made light of my efforts to learn how to speak and write Chinese.
make little of (someone or something)
- minimize someone or something, belittle someone or something
My friend often makes little of the fact that he borrows money and then does not pay it back quickly.
make merry
- have fun, laugh and celebrate
We decided to go to a nice restaurant and make merry for the evening.
make mincemeat out of (someone)
- beat someone up
The boxer made mincemeat out of his opponent during the boxing match.
make mischief
- cause trouble
The young boy seemed to enjoy the fact that he could make mischief whenever he wanted.
make no bones about (something)
- make no secret of something, have no doubts about something
I made no bones about the fact that I am not interested in applying for the supervisor`s job.
make no difference to (someone)
- not to matter to someone, not to care (about something)
It makes no difference to me if we go to the movie on Friday or on Saturday.
make no mistake (about something)
- have no doubt about something, be certain about something
I told the man to make no mistake about the fact that he was not permitted to park his car in our parking area.
make nothing of (something)
- ignore something as if it had not happened
The woman made nothing of the fact that she almost hit a woman in the parking lot.
make of (someone or something)
- think or have an opinion about someone or something
"What do you make of the new manager in accounting."
make off with (someone or something)
- take someone or something away
The thief made off with a new television set from the store.
make one`s bed and lie in it
- be responsible for what you have done and accept the results of your actions
"You quit your job and now you have no money. You made your bed and now you must lie in it."
make one`s blood boil
- become very angry
Every time that I see that man he makes my blood boil.
make one`s feelings known
- to reveal one's feelings about something
My friend made her feelings known about her desire not to attend the dinner.
make one`s hair stand on end
- frighten/horrify someone
The horror movie that we saw last week made my hair stand on end.
make one`s own way
- rely on one`s own abilities
His father wants him to join the family business but he wants to make his own way and do something different.
make oneself at home
- relax and act as if you were at home
She always makes herself at home when she goes to visit her friends.
make oneself conspicuous
- attract attention to oneself
The man made himself conspicuous by wearing the pastel-colored sports jacket.
make oneself felt
- use one`s authority
He was able to make himself felt when he helped to resolve the conflict.
make oneself heard
- speak loudly so you will be heard above the noise
I had to speak loudly in order to make myself heard while the loud music was playing.
make oneself scarce
- leave quickly, go away
I think that I will make myself scarce and go to the beach for the day.
make or break (someone)
- either benefit or ruin someone
The new business venture will probably make or break my uncle.
make out
- to progress, to do well or not do well
"How did you make out at your job interview yesterday?"
make out (a report/application)
- fill out a report/application
I stayed out late last night in order to make out some reports for work.
make out (something)
- understand something by making an effort
I can never make out what my friend wants to say when he phones me.
make out (something)
- distinguish/identify something, manage to see or read something
The ship captain could not make out the name of the other boat because of the fog.
I was unable to make out the sign because I didn't have my glasses.
make out (something)
- make someone believe something, prove something
He made out that he was at the library last night but I know that he wasn`t.
make over (something)
- make something look different, change the style of something
We decided to make over our living room because we were tired of the old style.
make overtures to (someone)
- approach someone in a friendly way to begin talking about something or dealing with something, make a formal proposal or offer
The woman made overtures to her friend to try and solve some of their recent problems.
make peace with (someone)
- end a quarrel with someone
The two sisters were finally able to make peace with each other.
make points with (someone)
- gain favor with someone
I am sure that the woman is more interested in making points with her boss than doing a good job.
make room for (someone or something)
- arrange space for someone or something
We made room for the new computer in the spare room.
make sense
- seem reasonable
His new proposal really does make sense.
make sense out of (someone or something)
- understand or interpret someone or something
I tried very hard to make sense out of the terrible tragedy at the hotel.
make short work of (something)
- finish something quickly
He made short work of the typing and has started working on the other report.
make (someone or something) available to (someone)
- supply someone with someone or something
The company made a car available to the sales staff.
make (someone) eat crow
- cause someone to admit an error or retract a statement
I wanted the supervisor to eat crow and admit that she had made a mistake.
make (someone) look good
- cause someone to appear successful or competent
The new sales contract that I had won made me look good.
make (someone) look ridiculous
- make someone look foolish
The complaint from my coworker made me look ridiculous.
make (someone) sick
- disgust someone
The attitude of the woman next door makes me sick.
make (someone's) blood run cold
- shock or horrify someone
The sight of the injured family in the car accident made my blood run cold.
make (someone's) flesh crawl
- cause someone's skin to feel funny
The movie was very violent and it made my flesh crawl.
make (someone's) hair stand on end
- cause someone to be very frightened
The sound of the screaming woman made my hair stand on end.
make (someone's) head spin
- make someone confused or overwhelmed, make someone dizzy
The numbers and information that I had to learn in the accounting course made my head spin.
make (someone`s) mouth water
- make someone want to eat something because of the thought or smell of the food
It made my mouth water when I looked at the menu.
make (someone's) position clear
- clarify where someone stands on an issue
The politician made his position clear on the issue of taxes.
make (something) from scratch
- make something by starting with the basic ingredients
We made the soup from scratch.
make (something) out of nothing
- make an issue out of something of little importance
My friend always wants to make something out of nothing and fights with everyone.
make (something) right/good
- replace or restore something
I worked hard to make my relationship with my friend right.
make (something) to order
- make something only when someone requests it
The construction company must make many parts for their equipment to order.
make (something) up to (someone)
- repay someone, make amends to someone
I was late for work so I had to make it up to my boss by working late.
make (something) worth (someone's) while
- make something profitable enough for someone to do
I made it worth my friend's while to help me move by buying him dinner.
make sure
- to make certain, to establish something without a doubt
I want to make sure that my friend is going to meet me tomorrow.
make the best of (something)
- do as well as possible in a bad situation
He made the best of his time working in the department that he hated.
make the grade
- succeed, qualify for something
He was not able to make the grade and could not join the football team.
make the most of (something)
- use something to one's greatest advantage
He made the most of his time in Europe and visited many art galleries.
make the scene
- be present, go to a certain place or event
He decided to make the scene and go to the disco for the evening.
make time for (someone or something)
- schedule time to see someone or do something
The man makes time for his son every weekend so that they can play sports together.
make time with (someone)
- flirt with someone
The man was trying to make time with the waitress in the restaurant.
make up for lost time
- do something quickly (because you wasted time before)
We wasted several days before we started to prepare for our holiday so we had to work hard to make up for lost time.
make up for (something)
- compensate for a loss or mistake
I have to work hard in order to make up for last year's poor sales.
make up one's face
- put on cosmetics
She always wants to make up her face before she goes to the store.
make up one`s mind
- decide something
I haven`t made up my mind about whether or not I will accept the new job.
make up (something)
- make something by putting things or parts together
We made up the new machine by using parts from old machines.
A car is made up of many different parts.
make up (something/a story/an excuse)
- invent a story, think and say something that is not true
She made up the story about how she got lost in the mountains.
make up (something/money/time)
- do or supply something that is lacking, regain/repay something
I had to make up the time that I was sick by working on Saturday.
make up (with someone)
- become friends again after a quarrel
The girl made up with her friend after their fight last week.
make use of (someone or something)
- use someone or something
I made use of my friends garage to keep some of my tools.
make waves
- create a disturbance
He is very quiet at work and does not like to make waves.
make way for (someone or something)
- to stand aside, to move so someone or something can pass by
The truck went to the side of the road to make way for the ambulance.
.
a man-about-town
- a fashionable man who leads a sophisticated life
My friend is a man-about-town and goes out almost every evening.
man in the street
- an average or ordinary person
According to the man in the street the government is not very popular.
man-to-man
- frank or honest, direct
I had a man-to-man talk with my friend about his problem last night.
many is the time
- on many occasions
Many is the time that I have sat at home waiting for a phone call that never came.
march to (the beat of) a different drummer
- believe in a different set of principles
My friend marches to the beat of a different drummer and always does what he thinks is the right thing to do.
mark Idioms
mark down (a price)
- lower the price of something
The store decided to mark down the prices of their winter coats.
mark down (something)
- make a note about something
The traffic policeman marked down all of the cars that were parked illegally.
mark my word(s)
- remember what I'm telling you
"Mark my words, if you do not finish your homework project you are not going to go out this weekend."
mark time
- be idle, wait for something to happen
He has been marking time for over a month now as he waits to hear about the new job.
mark time (to music)
- move one`s feet up and down to music
He was marking time to the music as he was driving his car.
mark up (a price)
- raise the price of something
The store marked up the price of the camping equipment at the beginning of the summer.
mark up (something)
- mess something up with marks
The child marked up the new table that her parents had just bought.
.
a marvel to behold
- someone or something quite wonderful or exciting to see
The new bridge was a marvel to behold and many tourists came to look at it.
a match for (someone)
- equal to someone in a contest
The German soccer team was a match for the Brazilian team.
to matter
- to be important
It does not matter if you come to work late tomorrow.
a matter of course
- the usual way/habit/rule
Things were done as a matter of course and nobody thought about the results.
a matter of fact
- something that can be proved and is true
It was a matter of fact that no taxes were paid by the company last year.
a matter-of-fact manner/way
- simply telling or showing the truth, seeming not to care much
The witness described the murder in a matter-of-fact way.
as a matter of fact
- used to emphasize that something is true or actually happened
"As a matter of fact, I saw him last night and he asked me how you were."
a matter of life and death
- an issue of great urgency
It was a matter of life and death to rescue the young boy from the water quickly.
a matter of opinion
- a question about which there are different opinions
It was a matter of opinion as to what design would be best for the new art gallery.
to mean business
- to be serious, to be ready to take action
He is working very hard and means business when he says that he is going to get the office organized.
to mean for (someone) to (do something)
- intend for someone to do something
I mean for my friend to get the free ticket and not anyone else.
to mean nothing to (someone)
- have no effect or feeling for someone
My uncle is very wealthy and to lose money in a business transaction means nothing to him.
to mean (something) to (someone)
- have an effect or feeling for someone
I always tell my mother about my job situation because it means a lot to her.
to mean to (do something)
- plan or intend to do something
I always mean to go to a movie but I never have enough time.
mean well
- to have good intentions, to try to be kind and helpful
Although the woman means well, she always seems to cause herself many problems.
meant to be
- destined to exist/happen
It was not meant to be that I would win some money in the lottery.
measure up to (someone or something)
- be equal to someone or something, be of the same quality as someone or something
The new accounting manager does not measure up to the previous accounting manager.
meat and potatoes
- basic and strong, have simple tastes in food and other things
My friend's taste in food and life is one of a basic meat-and-potatoes approach.
a Mecca for (something)
- a place that is popular with people for some reason (from the city of Mecca which is the religious center of Islam)
The small area of lakes is a Mecca for people who like to fish.
meet Idioms
meet one's end/death
- die
The elderly man met his death in an accident while walking across the street.
meet one's match
- meet one's equal
Our team met their match when they had to play the best team in the city.
meet one's Waterloo
- meet one's final and most insurmountable challenge (Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo)
The team met their Waterloo when they went to the tournament to meet the best teams in the country.
meet (someone) half-way
- make a compromise with someone
He is very stubborn and is never willing to meet his friends half-way.
meet the requirements (for something)
- fulfill the requirements for something
The new nurse does not meet the requirements to be a nurse in our hospital.
meet up with (someone or something)
- meet someone or something by accident or without expecting to
The young man met up with a nice group of people while he was traveling in Australia.
.
a meeting of minds
- complete agreement
The members of our group had a meeting of minds and we all decided to go to a movie.
melt in one`s mouth
- taste very good, taste delicious
The pastry that my grandmother made melted in my mouth.
mend fences with (someone)
- do something to repair a relationship after a fight or other problem
I made an effort to mend fences with my friend after our recent fight.
mend one`s ways
- improve one`s habits
The woman was forced to mend her ways in order to do better at work.
mention (someone or something) in passing
- mention someone or something casually
I mentioned a friend of mine in passing when I was talking to my father.
mess around/about
- to play around or engage in idle activity
The children were messing around in the school yard before the class began.
mess up
- cause trouble, spoil something
He messed up his chance to get a promotion by not making any effort during the year.
middle of the road
- halfway between two different ideas, seeing good on both sides of an issue
The mayor was elected because his ideas were very middle of the road.
might as well
- be somewhat preferable to do something
"We might as well go home now. I don`t think he will come."
a milestone in someone's life
- a very important event or point in one's life
The high school graduation ceremony was a milestone in the young woman's life.
the milk of human kindness
- natural kindness and sympathy shown to others
The woman who volunteered at the hospital was full of the milk of human kindness.
milk (someone) for (something)
- pressure someone into giving information or money
The boy was milking his friend for as much money as he could.
a millstone around (someone's) neck
- a continual burden or handicap
The empty store was a millstone around the neck of the small businessman.
mince (one's) words
- make one's statement weaker by choosing weak or polite words
I tried not to mince my words when I went to ask my neighbor to keep quiet.
mind one's manners
- be careful to use good manners
I was asked to mind my manners when I was serving myself food at the buffet table.
mind one's own business
- attend only to the things that concern one
I asked my friend to mind his own business when he asked me about my problems with my father.
mind one`s P`s and Q`s
- be very careful about what one does or says
You should mind your P`s and Q`s and not say anything to offend your aunt.
mind the store
- take care of local matters
My sister stayed home to mind the store when the rest of the family went away for the weekend.
Mind you
- I want you to notice and understand something
I don`t want to work any more overtime. Mind you, if there is an emergency I will be happy to work extra hours.
a mine of information
- someone or something that is full of information
The old man was a mine of information when we were writing about the history of the town.
a miscarriage of justice
- a wrong or mistaken decision (in a court of law)
Everybody thought that the light sentence that the murderer received was a miscarriage of justice.
misplace one's trust in (someone)
- put trust in someone who does not deserve it
The company misplaced their trust in the manager who caused them many legal problems.
miss by a mile
- fail to hit or do something by a great distance/amount
The soccer player seemed almost certain to score a goal but actually she missed by a mile.
miss out on (something)
- lose an opportunity
He missed out on the new job because he was late for the interview.
miss the boat
- lose an opportunity
You had better hurry and get your application in or you will miss the boat and not get the job that you want.
miss the point
- fail to understand the important part of something
My friend was missing the point when we tried to explain why he shouldn't do what he was doing.
mistake (someone or something) for (someone or something) else
- to think that someone or something is someone or something else
I mistook my friend's sister for someone else when I went to the airport.
I often mistake one car for another car when I see them on the street.
mix and match
- assemble a limited number of items (often clothing) in a number of different ways
There was a sale at the department store where we could mix and match the various summer outfits.
to mix it up
- to argue or fight
The two groups of young men were mixing it up outside of the school yard.
to mix up (something)
- to confuse things, to make a mistake about something
The teacher mixed up the DVDs and played the wrong one in front of the class.
a mix-up
- an error, confusion
There was a mix-up at the airline ticket counter and I was given the wrong ticket.
a mixed bag
- a varied collection of people or things
The festival promoters presented a mixed bag of musical styles at the summer music festival.
(get or become) mixed up
- become confused
He gets mixed up when he tries to speak French.
the moment of truth
- the point where someone has to face the reality of a situation
The moment of truth for the sprinter came when the final qualifying race for the Olympics began.
Money is no object
- the cost of something is not important
Money is no object and we have decided to go on a luxury cruise this summer.
Money is the root of all evil
- money is the basic cause of all wrongdoing
Many people believe that money is the root of all evil and causes most problems in the world.
Money talks
- money gives one power and influence
Money talks and whenever the wealthy banker goes to his favorite restaurant, he gets the best table available.
money to burn
- much money, more money than is needed
My friend has money to burn and never has to worry about working.
monkey around (with someone or something)
- play with or waste time with someone or something
I spent the morning monkeying around with my new computer.
monkey business
- mischief
The kids were involved in some monkey business when the window was broken.
monkey business
- unethical or illegal activity, cheating
The company was involved in some monkey business with the tax department and have hired a lawyer to defend themselves.
mop the floor up with (someone)
- beat up someone
The large gangster mopped the floor up with the young man.
mope around
- go about in a depressed state
The boy was forced to stay home and spent the morning moping around the house.
more Idioms
more and more
- increasingly, an increasing number
More and more people are buying laptop computers.
more dead than alive
- exhausted, near death
I felt more dead than alive when I returned from the hiking trip.
more fun than a barrel of monkeys
- very funny
My uncle is more fun than a barrel of monkeys and we love to visit him.
more often than not
- usually
More often than not we eat at home rather than go out.
more or less
- somewhat, to some extent
I more or less have decided to study business next year.
more (something) than one can shake a stick at
- a lot, too many to count
There were more ants than you could shake a stick at on the kitchen counter at the cottage.
more than one can bear/stand/take
- more trouble or other misfortune than one can endure
The constant barking of the dog is more than I can bear so I will go out for a walk to get away.
more than (someone) bargained for
- more than one thought one would get
The problems caused by the dishonest employee were more than the company bargained for.
the more the merrier
- the more people who join in the fun the better it will be
The more the merrier I thought as everyone went to the beach.
more to (something) than meets the eye
- hidden values or facts in something
There was more to the new contract than meets the eye and everyone was pleased with it.
.
the morning after (the night before)
- a hangover
He is not feeling well because it is the morning after the night before.
not move a muscle
- not move even a small amount
The doctor told me not to move a muscle when he was fixing my leg.
move heaven and earth (to do something)
- try every way, do everything one can to do something
I will move heaven and earth to help you get a job with our company.
move in on (someone or something)
- try to take over something that belongs to another
He was angry because the other salesman was moving in on his sales territory.
move into (something)
- get started in a new job or business
Our company has decided to move into the retail sales of computers.
move up (in the world)
- advance and become successful
The young man is working hard and is moving up in the world.
movers and shakers
- important people who get things done
The movers and shakers of the city went to the opening of the new art gallery.
much ado about nothing
- a lot of excitement about nothing
There was much ado about nothing over the small scandal in the city government.
much in evidence
- very visible or evident
The symphony musicians were much in evidence at the opening of the cultural center.
much sought after
- wanted or desired very much
Old fishing equipment is much sought after by collectors around the world.
muddy the water
- make matters confusing, make something less clear
The questions from the audience helped to muddy the water during the debate.
mull over (something)
- think about something carefully
I took much time to mull over the new job offer from our competitor.
mum`s the word
- say nothing of a secret that you know
"Mum`s the word on the party. I won`t tell anybody."
murder on (something)
- very destructive or harmful to something
My new shoes are murder on my feet.
muscle in on (someone or something)
- forcefully try to discipline someone or take over someone's property or business
The large supermarket was trying to muscle in on the territory of the small shops.
music to one`s ears
- something one likes to hear
When he told me that I could go to the sales convention in the summer it was music to my ears.
musical chairs
- the transfer of people in an organization into different jobs - especially each other`s jobs
They seem to be playing musical chairs at the company as people move from one position to another position.
a must have
- something that you must have
The new computer screens are a must have for computer users.
muster up the courage
- build up one's courage to do something
I plan to muster up the courage and ask the woman for a date.
my goodness/my God
- used to express surprise or shock
"My goodness," she said when she saw the small dog jump into the swimming pool.
my gut tells me
- my instincts tell me that something is as it is
My gut tells me that I am not going to get a new job soon.
my one and only
- one's spouse or girlfriend or boyfriend
My one and only will be home before dinner.