1. Home
2. Idioms
3. capital

capital

---

---

make capital out of (something)

To use something to one's advantage or profit. Prosecutors are making capital out of the defendant's conflicting stories.

See also: capital, make, of, out

with a capital letter

to an extreme degree That makes me feel OK with a capital O. If you want culture with a capital C, you can go to an art museum or a concert.

Usage notes: used to emphasize the meaning of a particular word

See also: capital

with a capital [A/B/C etc.]

 

1. something that you say in order to emphasize a particular quality You're trouble with a capital T, you are!

2. if you talk about a subject with a capital A/B/C etc., you mean the most formal and often limited understanding of that subject The Academy has been criticized for being too traditional and only supporting Art with a capital A.

See also: capital

make capital out of

Use profitably, turn to account, as in The challengers made capital out of the President's signing a bill that increased taxes . This expression, first recorded in 1855, uses capital in the sense of "material wealth used to create more wealth."

See also: capital, make, of, out

capital

n. cash; money. I’m a little short of capital right now.