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make up
make (oneself) up
to put makeup on oneself. I have to make up now. I go on stage in ten minutes. I will make myself up. I don't need your help.
make (oneself) up
to put makeup on oneself. I have to make up now. I go on stage in ten minutes. I will make myself up. I don't need your help.
make someone up
to put makeup on someone. You have to make the clowns up before you start on the other characters in the play. Did you make up the clowns?
make something up
1. to redo something; to do something that one has failed to do in the past. Can I make the lost time up? Can I make up the test that I missed?
2. to assemble something. We will ship the parts to China where we will make up the computers with cheap labor. (See also make the bed (up).) Have they finished making up the pages for the next edition of the magazine?
3. to think up something; to make and tell a lie. That's not true! You just made that up! I didn't make it up! You made up that story!
4. to mix something up; to assemble something. John: Is my prescription ready? Druggist: No, I haven't made it up yet. I'll make up your prescription in a minute.
make up
to put on makeup. I have to go make up before Joe comes to pick me up.
make up something
to constitute something. (See also
make something up.)
Two chapters make up this volume. Over forty freight cars made up the train.make up
(to someone) 1. to apologize to someone. It's too late to make up tome. I think you should go make up to ferry.
2. to try to become friends with someone. Look how the cat is making up to Richard! Jimmy is making up to Donna, and she doesn't even notice.
make up (with someone)
to reconcile with someone; to end a disagreement (with someone). Bill and Max decided to make up. They made up with each other and are now very good friends.
make up
to become friendly again after having an argument or disagreement It took us a while to make up after the fight we had last Sunday.
make up something
1. to form part or all of a group Women made up about 28 percent of the students earning a master's degree that year.
2. to add to an amount of money to reach a total We're $5 short, but I'll make up the difference. We'll have to try to make up the shortfall by cutting costs.
make up something
also make something up1. to invent a story or an excuse He made up a story to explain why he was late for work. I don't know how a computer works, but I could make something up.
2. to use time later to do something you did not do when it was scheduled She'll have to make up the exam next Wednesday. I take an extra fifteen minutes for lunch and I make it up at the end of the day.
make up
1. Put together, construct or compose, as in The druggist made up the prescription, or The tailor said he could make up a suit from this fabric. This usage was first recorded in 1530.
2. Constitute, form, as in One hundred years make up a century. [Late 1500s]
3. Change one's appearance; apply cosmetics. For example, He made himself up as an old man. [c. 1800]
4. Devise a fiction or falsehood; invent. For example, Mary is always making up stories for her children, or Is that account true or did you make it up? This usage was first recorded in 1828.
5. Compensate for, provide for a deficiency, as in
Can you make up the difference in the bill? or
What he lacks in height he makes up in skill. This usage was first recorded in 1538. Also see
make up for lost time.
6. Repeat a course, take a test or do an assignment at a later time because of previous absence or failure. For example, Steve will have to make up calculus this summer, or The professor is letting me make up the exam tomorrow.
7. Also, make it up. Resolve a quarrel, as in The Sweeneys argue a lot but they always make up before going to sleep, or Will you two ever make it up? The first usage was first recorded in 1699, the variant in 1669.
8. Put in order, as in We asked them to make up the room for us, or Can you make up another bed in this room? [Early 1800s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with make up.
make up
v.1. To constitute or form something: Ten years make up a decade. The committee is made up of scientists and politicians.
2. To put something together; construct, arrange, or compose something: The doctor made up a prescription for my cough. We can make a bed up in the living room if you'd like to stay.
3. To prepare or alter one's appearance by applying cosmetics: The makeup artist made up the actor and sent him on to wardrobe. After she made herself up, she put on her dress and went downstairs.
4. To devise some fiction or falsehood; invent something: If you don't know any scary stories, just make one up. I didn't want to go to the party, so I made up an excuse.
5. To compensate for something, such as a previous debt or bad behavior: They didn't charge me the right amount last month, but made up the difference in this month's bill. I'm sorry I forgot your birthday—I'll make it up to you by taking you out to dinner.
6. To take some examination or course again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure: When will you make up the exam that you missed? If you fail the course, you must make it up over the summer.
7. To resolve a quarrel or conflict: My husband and I often fight about money, but we always make up right away. I made up with my sister after several years of not speaking to her.
8. make up to To make ingratiating or fawning overtures to someone: I have seen you make up to the boss, hoping to get a promotion.
9. To set something in order: I'll make up the bedroom before the guests arrive. We made the room up with clean linens and fresh flowers.