Hey there! This is TOP episode 120.  14 Expressions With ‘MAKE’ You Need To Know.

My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. My goal is to help you start speaking English with confidence and get rid of speaking barriers. I believe it is achievable for you and it’s time you started speaking English fearlessly! Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning! 

Hello again! If thi is your very first time here, I’m so glad we’ve found each other! It’s great you’re here today, thank you for tuning in and uhm, today it’s gonna be intense. I don’t think it’s possible for you to multitask today. Phrases, phrases, phrases, I’m meaning to flood you with a bunch of expressions with the verb ‘make’. 

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After listening to the whole episode, don’t forget to download the worksheet. It’s waiting for you at teacherola.com/120. If you have little time and prefer to go all-in buy the Worksheet Set. I’ve prepared a set of the first 30 worksheets. The Worksheet Set includes The Speaking English Planner, a great tool for monitoring your progress in speaking English.

Today I’m gonna give you a general rule that helps us decide whether to choose  ‘do’ or ‘make’. I’ll give you some examples. Then we’ll go through  14 fixed expressions with ‘make’. I’ll give you definitions and plenty of example sentences. Finally, in the practical part at the end of the episode, you’ll practise speaking by repeating 14 sentences out loud.

Without any further ado. Let’s dive in!

Use ‘make’ when you create something. Like breakfast, cake, and coffee. There was no coffee before, then you make it and voila! Here we have a nice cuppa. So you’ve made it. It’s been created by you. You’re like God. You create things. When we use ‘make’ we focus on the result, the final product. Let me show you some examples, to illustrate the rule:

make a cake

make lunch

make a cup of tea

make a sandwich

make a birdhouse

make jewelry

With ‘do’ you create nothing. You’re just a human and you complete tasks. House chores, obligations, homework, general activities you do repeatedly. With ‘do’ we’re focused on the process of doing, on the action, on performance. It refers to the action itself. Use ‘do’ for actions, obligations, and repetitive tasks. Let me give you a few examples:

do the shopping

do the washing

do the dishes

do homework

do a course

do sport

do exercise

These are general rules that apply to a certain number of cases. Nevertheless, surprise, surprise, there are exceptions. Or simply fixed phrases you need to learn by heart. Shock horror! I mean, English has loads and loads of exceptions. Don’t get frustrated, it is what it is, let’s just embrace it and move on. 

Today we’re focusing on phrases with ‘make’. There will be part two to this subject and we’ll have a closer look at the collocations with the verb ‘do’. Let’s get to it!

MAKE UP YOUR MIND. To make a decision. To decide. To choose. Sometimes it’s hard to make up your mind when you’re spoiled for choice. 

He’s thinking about going, but he still hasn’t made up his mind.

It’s now or never, so make up your mind.

MAKE TROUBLE. To cause problems or issues. To misbehave, to be naughty. To act up. 

He could make trouble for me if he wanted to.

I don’t want to make trouble for her.

They might try and make trouble.

If you make trouble again, I’ll send you home.

MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE. To tease, laugh at, or joke about someone in a mocking way. to be unkind to someone and laugh at or cause others to laugh at the person. To mock someone. 

You’re always making fun of me!

He thinks it’s clever to make fun of people.

How dare you make fun of me like that!

MAKE PROGRESS. To move forward in one’s work or activity. Progress is the process of gradually improving or getting nearer to achieving or completing something.

Eventually, you’ll make progress.

They’re not finished yet, but they’re making progress.

MAKE A FUSS. To become angry and complain about something unimportant. React nervously. 

Was I wrong to make a fuss?

Don’t make a fuss over a little thing like that.

Why should we make a fuss about it?

MAKE A POINT.  To state or demonstrate something of particular importance.

Don’t interrupt me because I’m trying to make a point!

They’ve made a point that we all should remember. 

She spoke for an hour without making a point.

Reporters sometimes stretch the facts to make a point.

MAKE FRIENDS. To become someone’s friend. To become friendly with someone. 

He has made friends with the kids on the street. 

She’s very good at making friends with people from all walks of life.

To make enemies, talk; to make friends, listen.

MAKE A PROFIT. A profit is money you make, as opposed to money you lose.

If we don’t make a profit, my job is on the line.

By trimming costs and improving service the hotel has now started to make a profit again.

MAKE TIME. find an occasion when time is available to do something. To make certain you have some time when you are not busy in order to do something you think you should do. To allot time in one’s schedule, as for a particular activity or to spend time with someone.

It’s important to make time to read to your children.

In a relationship you have to make time for each other.

How many of us make time to unwind?

MAKE PEACE. To e-establish friendly relations; become reconciled. To settle a dispute or disagreement. to reach an agreement. To accept something or someone.

Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have.

Stop fighting you two – shake hands and make peace !

For almost 20 years, she struggled to make peace with the past.

MAKE A SCENE. Make a public disturbance or excited emotional display. To behave in a loud, angry way in public

Please don’t make a scene.

She doesn’t like to make a scene before strangers.

I was mad, but I didn’t want to make a scene .

MAKE AN IMPRESSION. To produce a strong effect on one. To cause someone to notice and admire you

He tried to make a good impression on his girlfriend’s parents.

He made a good first impression.

MAKE A FACE. produce a facial expression that shows dislike or some other negative emotion, or that is intended to be amusing. to move your mouth, nose, and eyes in strange ways to show emotion or make people laugh. 

She made a face and stuck out her tongue at him.

The boy made the baby laugh by making a face at him.

The girl made a face at the taste of the medicine.

MAKE A FULL OF YOURSELF. To trick or deceive (someone) so that they look foolish. To behave in a very foolish or silly way. 

He got drunk and made a fool of himself.

I don’t want to make a fool of myself.

It’s time you spoke some English. Listen and repeat the sentences out loud. Trust me, it works. Give it a shot. Even if you feel foolish doing it, doesn’t matter, repeat out loud. I can’t guarantee anything if you don’t say those sentences out loud. Let us begin.

It’s now or never, so make up your mind.

I don’t want to make trouble for her.

You’re always making fun of me!

Eventually, you’ll make progress.

Don’t make a fuss over a little thing like that.

They’ve made a point that we all should remember. 

She’s very good at making friends with people from all walks of life.

If we don’t make a profit, my job is on the line.

In a relationship, you have to make time for each other.

For almost 20 years, she struggled to make peace with the past.

I was mad, but I didn’t want to make a scene.

He made a good first impression.

The girl made a face at the taste of the medicine.

I don’t want to make a fool of myself.

So good! Glad you’ve made it! Don’t forget to go to your inbox and grab worksheet 120 in order to test yourself. Complete the worksheet with translations.

If you’re not a member of TOPeople download the worksheet at teacherola.com/120 and become one. It’s free. 

I also have The Worksheet Set. This way you won’t have to download each worksheet separately. So it’s gonna be much more convenient to work with this podcast. All the links are in the description below. 

If you enjoyed it, please share this episode with one person or share it somewhere on your social media. It’ll help me grow and spread the message. No matter how big your language blockade is, you can and will overcome it and speak fluently.

Thank you so much for listening and I’ll see you next Wednesday! We’re going to talk about the learning process. Is it possible for an adult to learn a foreign language as fast as it is for a child? Till then, take care! Happy learning. Stay fearless and say it out loud! Bye!