Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

M

[mackerel] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MACKEREL.

[mad about]{adj. phr.} 1. Angry about. •/What is Harriet so mad about?/ 2. Enthusiastic about. •/Dan is mad about pop music./

[mad as a hatter] or [mad as a March hare] {adj. phr.} Not able to think right; crazy. •/Anyone who thinks the moon is made of green cheese is mad as a hatter./

[mad as a hornet] or [mad as hops] or [mad as a wet hen] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In a fighting mood; very angry. •/When my father sees the dent in his fender, he’ll be mad as a hornet./ •/Bill was mad as hops when the fellows went on without him./ •/Mrs. Harris was mad as a wet hen when the rabbits ate her tulips./

[mad as a March hare] See: MAD AS A HATTER.

[mad as hops] See: MAD AS A HORNET.

[made of money]{adj. phr.} Very rich; wealthy. •/Mr. Jones buys his children everything they want. He must be made of money./ Compare: MONEY TO BURN.

[made-to-measure] or [tailor-made] {adj.} Made to fit a special set of measurements or needs. •/John has a new made-to-measure suit./ •/The club is tailor-made for Jane./ Syn.: MADE TO ORDER.

[made to order]{adj. phr.} 1. Made specially in the way the buyer wants instead of all the same in large amounts; made especially for the buyer. •/Mr. Black’s clothes were all made to order./ Compare: MADE-TO-MEASURE. 2. Just right. •/The weather was made to order for the hike./

[made up out of whole cloth] See: OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.

[magic carpet]{n.} 1. A rug said to be able to transport a person through the air to any place he wishes. •/The caliph of Baghdad flew on his magic carpet to Arabia./ 2. Any form of transportation that is comfortable and easy enough to seem magical. •/Flying the Concord from Dallas to London seemed like boarding the magic carpet./ •/Mr. Smith’s new car drove so smoothly it seemed like a magic carpet./

[maiden speech]{n. phr.} One’s first public speech, usually before some legislative body. •/It was the new congressman’s maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly./

[maiden voyage]{n. phr.} The first voyage of a boat. •/The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage to America from England./

[mail order]{n. phr.} A purchase made by mail. •/If you don’t have a chance to go to a store, you can sometimes make a purchase by mail order./

[main] See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.

[main drag]{n.}, {colloquial} 1. The most important street or thoroughfare in a town. •/Lincoln Avenue is the main drag of our town./ 2. The street where the dope pushers and the prostitutes are. •/Wells Street is the main drag of Chicago, actionwise./

[main squeeze]{n.}, {slang} 1. The top ranking person in an organization or in a neighborhood; an important person, such as one’s boss. •/Mr. Bronchard is the main squeeze in this office./ 2. The top person in charge of an illegal operation, such as drug sales, etc. •/Before we can clean up this part of town, we must arrest the main squeeze./ 3. One’s principal romantic or sexual partner. •/The singer’s main squeeze is a member of the band./

[majority leader]{n.} The leader of the political party with the most votes in a legislative house. •/The majority leader of the House of Representatives tried to get the members of his party to support the bill./ Compare: MINORITY LEADER.

[make] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, HAVE IT MADE, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, ON THE MAKE.

[make a beeline for]{v. phr.} To go in a straight line toward. •/The runner made a beeline for first base./ •/When the bell rang Ted made a beeline for the door of the classroom./

[make a big deal about]{v. phr.}, {informal} To exaggerate an insignificant event. •/Jeff said, "I’m sorry I banged into you in the dark. Don’t make a big deal out of it."/

[make a clean breast of]{v. phr.} To admit (your guilt); tell all about (your wrong doing); confess everything. •/The police caught the hit-and-run driver and he made a clean breast of his crime./ •/Arthur worried because he cheated on the test, and finally he went to the teacher and made a clean breast of it./ Compare: OFF ONE’S CHEST.

[make a clean sweep of]{v. phr.} 1. Achieve a complete victory. •/In 7980 the Reagan Republicans made a clean sweep of the western states./ 2. To eliminate thoroughly and completely. •/The new attorney general is expected to make a clean sweep of all the old administrative personnel./

[make a clown of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.

[make a day of it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do something all day. •/When they go to the beach they take a picnic lunch and make a day of it./ Compare: MAKE A NIGHT OF.

[make a dent in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make less by a very small amount; reduce slightly. — Usually used in the negative or with such qualifying words as "hardly" or "barely". •/John shoveled and shoveled, but he didn’t seem to make a dent in the pile of sand./ •/Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework./

[make a difference] or [make the difference] {v. phr.} To change the nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. •/John’s good score on the test made the difference between his passing or failing the course./ •/It doesn’t make a bit of difference if you are late to my party. I just want you to come./

[make a face]{v. phr.}, {informal} To twist your face; make an ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue). •/The boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back./ •/The sick boy swallowed the medicine and made a face./

[make a fast buck] See: FAST BUCK.

[make a federal case out of] See: MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

[make a fool of] or (informal) [make a monkey of] {v. phr.} To make (someone) look foolish. •/The boy made a fool of himself./ •/Mary’s classmates made a fool of her by telling her the party was to be a masquerade./

[make after]{v. phr.} To chase something; run after something. •/The mouse escaped from the kitchen corner and the cat made after it./

[make a fuss over]{v. phr.} 1. To quarrel about something or someone. •/I want you kids to stop fussing about who gets the drumstick./ 2. To he excessively concerned about someone or something; worry. •/Let’s not fuss over such an insignificant problem!/ 3. To show exaggerated care or preoccupation about a person or an animal. •/Aunt Hermione is constantly fussing over her old lapdog./

[make a go of]{v. phr.} To turn into a success. •/He is both energetic and highly skilled at trading; he is sure to make a go of any business that holds his interest./

[make a hit]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be successful; be well-liked; get along well. •/Mary’s new red dress made a hit at the party./ •/Alice was so happy that her boyfriend made a hit with her parents./ Compare: GO OVER(6).

[make a killing]{v. phr.} To earn or suddenly win a very large sum of money. •/Herb bought a lot of soybean stock when the price was low and sold it when the price went up. Small wonder he made a huge killing./

[make a living]{v. phr.} To earn one’s livelihood. •/If you’re good at your job, you can make a better living than if you don’t know what you’re doing./ •/It is easier to make a living in the United States than in many other countries./

[make allowance]{v. phr.} To judge results by the circumstances. — Often used in plural. •/When a small boy is helping you, you must make allowances for his age./

[make a long story short]{v. phr.} To summarize a lengthy narrative. •/"So, to make a long story short," he said, "I made a killing on the stock market."/ Compare: IN A NUTSHELL.

[make a match]{v. phr.} To bring a man and woman together for the purpose of an engagement or marriage. •/Sheila’s aunt is anxious to make a match between her and an attractive, wealthy man./

[make a mess of] See: SCREW UP.

[make a monkey of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.

[make a motion]{v. phr.} To propose in some committee meeting or legislative group that a certain action be taken. •/The secretary made a motion that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted./

[make a mountain out of a molehill] To think a small problem is a big one; try to make something unimportant seem important. •/You’re not hurt badly, Johnny. Stop trying to make a mountain out of a molehill with crying./ •/Sarah laughed at a mistake Betty made in class, and Betty won’t speak to her; Betty is making a mountain out of a molehill./

[make a move]{v. phr.} 1. To budge; change places. •/"If you make a move," the masked gangster said, "I’ll start shooting."/ 2. To go home after dinner or a party. •/"I guess it’s time to make a move," Roy said at the end of the party./

[make a name for oneself]{v. phr.} To become recognized in a field of endeavor; become a celebrity. •/Joe has worked so hard at soybean trading that he made quite a name for himself as a trader./ •/Bill has made a name for himself both as a pianist and as a composer./

[make an appearance] See: PUT IN AN APPEARANCE.

[make an end of]{v. phr.} To make (something) end; put a stop to; stop. •/To make an end of rumors that the house was haunted, a reporter spent the night there./

[make an example of]{v. phr.} To punish (someone) publicly to show what happens when someone does wrong. •/The teacher made an example of the boy who copied from another student during a test./ •/The Pilgrims made an example of a thief by putting him in the stocks./

[make an exhibition of oneself]{v. phr.} To behave foolishly or embarrassingly in public. •/Stop drinking so much and making an exhibition of yourself./

[make a night of it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To spend the whole night at an activity. •/The dog found the door unlatched and made a night of it./ •/The boys and girls at the dance made a night of it./ Compare: MAKE A DAY OF IT.

[make a nuisance of oneself]{v. phr.} To constantly bother others. •/The screaming kids made a nuisance of themselves around the swimming pool./

[make a pass at]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Make advances toward a member of the opposite sex (usually man to a woman) with the goal of seducing the person. •/We’ve been dating for four weeks but Joe has never even made a pass at me./

[make a pig of oneself]{v. phr.}, {informal} To overindulge; eat too much. •/Mary said, "This dessert is so delicious that I am going to make a pig of myself and have some more."/

[make a play for]{v. phr.}, {slang} To try to get the interest or liking of; flirt with; attract. •/Bob made a play for the pretty new girl./ •/John made a play for the other boys' votes for class president./

[make a point]{v. phr.} To try hard; make a special effort. — Used with "of" and a verbal noun. •/He made a point of remembering to get his glasses fixed./ •/He made a point of thanking his hostess before he left the party./

[make a practice of]{v. phr.} To make a habit of; do regularly. •/Make a practice of being on time for work./

[make a quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.

[make a racket]{v. phr.} To cause a lot of noisy disturbance. •/I wish the kids playing in the street wouldn’t make such a racket while I’m trying to take a nap./

[make a scene]{v. phr.} To act hysterically; attract unfavorable attention. •/I didn’t want Kate to make a scene in front of all of those people, so I gave her the money she wanted./

[make a splash]{v. phr.} To cause a sensation. •/The brilliant young pianist, barely 14 years old, made quite a splash on the concert circuit./

[make a stab at]{v. phr.} To try doing something at random without sufficient preparation. •/The singer was not familiar with the aria but she decided to make a stab at it anyhow./ Contrast: STAB IN THE BACK, STAB IN THE DARK.

[make a stand]{v. phr.} 1. To take a firm position on an issue. •/He keeps talking about politics hut he never makes a stand for what he believes in./ 2. To take up a defensive position against the enemy. •/The retreating troops decided to make a stand by the river./ Contrast: LAST DITCH, LAST STAND.

[make a stir] See: MAKE A SCENE.

[make a touch]{v. phr.} To borrow money; try to borrow money. •/He is known to make a touch whenever he is hard up for cash./

[make a virtue of necessity]{v. phr.} Make the best of things as they are; do cheerfully what you do. •/After Mr. Wilson lost all his money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting life as a teacher./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF.

[make away with]{v.}, {informal} Take; carry away; cause to disappear. •/The lumberjack made away with a great stack of pancakes./ •/Two masked men held up the clerk and made away with the payroll./ Compare: MAKE OFF.

[make-believe]{n.} False; untrue; created by illusion. •/The creatures of Star Wars are all make-believe./

[make believe]{v.} To act as if something is true while one knows it is not; pretend. •/Let’s make believe we have a million dollars./ •/Danny made believe he didn’t hear his mother calling./

[make book]{v. phr.} To serve as a bookmaker taking bets on the horse races. •/The police were out to prosecute anybody who made book illegally./

[make both ends meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET.

[make bricks without straw]{v. phr.} To make something without the wherewithal; do something the hard way; do a job under hard conditions. •/John could not go to a library, and writing the report was a job of making bricks without straw./ •/It was making bricks without straw to put on plays in that old barn./

[make conversation]{v. phr.} To talk with someone just so that there will be talk. •/John made conversation with the stranger so that he would not feel left out./ •/Mary didn’t really mean what she said about Joan. She was only making conversation./

[make do]{v. phr.} To use a poor substitute when one does not have the right thing. •/John did not have a hammer, and he had to make do with a heavy rock./ •/This motel isn’t what we wanted, but we must make do./ •/Many families manage to make do on very little income./ Compare: GET ALONG.

[make ends meet]{v. phr.} To have enough money to pay one’s bills; earn what it costs to live. •/Both husband and wife had to work to make ends meet./

[make eyes at]{v. phr.}, {informal} To look at a girl or boy in a way that tries to attract him to you; flirt. •/The other girls disliked her way of making eyes at their boyfriends instead of finding one of her own./

[make faces at]{v. phr.} To grimace; scowl. •/"Stop making faces at each other, you children," my aunt said, "and start eating."/

[make for]{v.} To go toward; start in the direction of. •/The children took their ice skates and made for the frozen pond./ •/The bee got his load of pollen and made for the hive./

[make free with]{v.} 1. To take or use (things) without asking. •/Bob makes free with his roommate’s clothes./ •/A student should not make free with his teacher’s first name./ 2. To act toward (someone) in a rude or impolite way. •/The girls don’t like Ted because he makes free with them./ Compare: TAKE LIBERTIES.

[make friends]{v. phr.} To become friends; form a friendship. •/Mrs. Jones invited Bobby to her home to play with Don. She hoped that they would make friends with each other./ •/You can make friends with an elephant by giving him peanuts./

[make fun of] or [poke fun at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To joke about; laugh at; tease; mock. •/Men like to make fun of the trimmings on women’s hats./ •/James poked fun at the new pupil because her speech was not like the other pupils./

[make good]{v. phr.} 1. To do what one promised to do; make something come true. •/Mr. Smith borrowed some money. He promised to pay it back on payday. He made good his promise./ •/Joe made good his boast to swim across the lake./ •/John’s mother promised to take him and his friends to the zoo on Saturday. She made good her promise./ Compare: CARRY OUT. 2. To compensate; pay for loss or damage. •/The policeman told the boy’s parents that the boy must make good the money he had stolen or go to jail./ — Often used in the phrase "make it good". •/The radio was broken while it was being delivered so the store had to make it good and send us a new radio./ Compare: MAKE UP. 3. To do good work at one’s job; succeed. •/Kate wanted to be a nurse. She studied and worked hard in school. Then she got a job in the hospital and made good as a nurse./

[make good time]{v. phr.} To make unimpeded progress on a journey; arrive at one’s destination sooner than estimated. •/There was not much traffic on the expressway so we made good time on our way to the airport./

[make haste]{v. phr.} To move fast; hurry. — Rarely used in speaking. •/The dog wriggled into one end of the hollow log, and the rabbit made haste to get out the other end./ •/Mary saw that she had hurt Jane’s feelings, and made haste to say she was sorry./ Compare: MAKE TRACKS.

[make haste with] See: HURRY ON WITH.

[make hay while the sun shines]{v. phr.} To do something at the right time; not wait too long. •/Dick had a free hour so he made hay while the sun shone and got his lesson for the next day./ Compare: MAKE THE MOST OF.

[make head or tail of]{v. phr.}, {informal} To see the why of; finding a meaning in; understand. — Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. •/She could not make head or tail of the directions on the dress pattern./ •/Can you make head or tail of the letter?/

[make headway]{v. phr.} To move forward; make progress. •/The university is making headway with its campus reorganization project./

[make it hot]{v. phr.}, {informal} To bring punishment; cause trouble. •/Dick threatened to make it hot for anyone who tied knots in his pajama legs again./

[make it snappy]{v. phr.}, {informal} To move quickly; be fast; hurry. — Usually used as a command. •/"Make it snappy," Mother said, "or we’ll be late for the movie."/ •/The man hurried into the restaurant and told the waitress, "A cup of coffee, and make it snappy."/

[make it with]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To be accepted by a group. •/Joe finally made it with the in crowd in Hollywood./ 2. {vulgar} To have sex with (someone). •/I wonder if Joe has made it with Sue./

[make light of]{v. phr.} To treat an important matter as if it were trivial. •/One ought to know which problems to make light of and which ones to handle seriously./ Compare: LAUGH OFF. Contrast: MAKE MUCH OF.

[make little of]{v. phr.} To make (something) seem unimportant; belittle. •/Mary made little of Jane’s new bicycle because she was jealous./ •/Tom made little of his saving the drowning boy./ Contrast: MAKE MUCH OF.

[make love]{v. phr.} 1. To be warm, loving, and tender toward someone of the opposite sex; try to get him or her to love you too. •/There was moonlight on the roses and he made love to her in the porch swing./ 2. To have sexual relations with (someone). •/It is rumored that Alfred makes love to every girl he hires as a secretary./

[make merry]{v. phr.}, {literary} To have fun, laugh, and be happy, •/In Aesop’s fable the grasshopper made merry while the ant worked and saved up food./ •/In the Bible story a rich man ate and drank and made merry./

[make mincemeat (out) of]{v. phr.} To destroy completely. •/The defense attorney made mincemeat of the prosecution’s argument./

[make much of]{v. phr.} To make something seem of more worth or importance than it really is; praise. •/Visitors made much of the new collie./ •/The boy made much of the hard things of his mountain climb./ Contrast: MAKE LIGHT OF, MAKE LITTLE OF.

[make neither head nor tail of]{v. phr.} To be unable to figure something out. •/This puzzle is so complicated that I can make neither head nor tail of it./ Compare: HEADS OR TAILS.

[make no bones]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To have no doubts; not to worry about right or wrong; not to be against. — Used with "about". •/Bill makes no bones about telling a lie to escape punishment./ •/The boss made no bones about hiring extra help for the holidays./ 2. To make no secret; not keep from talking; admit. — Used with "about" or "of the fact". •/John thinks being poor is no disgrace and he makes no bones of the fact./ •/Mary made no bones about her love of poetry even after some of her friends laughed at her./

[make of]{v. phr.} To interpret; understand. •/What do you make of his sudden decision to go to Africa?/

[make off]{v.} To go away; run away; leave. •/When the deer saw the hunter it made off at once./ •/A thief stopped John on a dark street and made off with his wallet./ Compare: TAKE OFF.

[make one feel at home]{v. phr.} To be hospitable; welcome; make someone feel at ease. •/They are very popular hosts because they always manage to make their guests feel at home./

[make one out to be]{v. phr.} To accuse someone of being something. •/Don’t make me out to be such a grouch; I am really quite happy-go-lucky./

[make one’s bed and lie in it] To be responsible for what you have done and so to have to accept the bad results. •/Billy smoked one of his father’s cigars and now he is sick. He made his bed, now let him lie in it./ Compare: FACE THE MUSIC(2).

[make one’s blood boil] or [make the blood boil] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make someone very angry. •/When someone calls me a liar it makes my blood boil./ •/It made Mary’s blood boil to see the children make fun of the crippled girl./ Compare: BOILING POINT.

[make one’s blood run cold] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.

[make one’s ears burn] See: EARS BURN.

[make oneself at home]{v. phr.} To feel comfortable; act as if you were in your own home. •/If you get to my house before I do, help yourself to a drink and make yourself at home./ •/John was an outdoor man and could make himself at home in the woods at night./ Compare: AT EASE, AT HOME(2).

[make oneself scarce]{v. phr.}, {slang} To leave quickly; go away. •/The boys made themselves scarce when they saw the principal coming to stop their noise./ •/A wise mouse makes himself scarce when a cat is nearby./

[make one’s hair stand on end] See: HAIR STAND ON END.

[make one’s head spin]{v. phr.} To be bewildered; be confused. •/It makes my head spin to think about the amount of work I still have to do./

[make one’s mark]{v. phr.} To become known to many people; do well the work you started to do; make a reputation. •/Shakespeare made his mark as a playwright./

[make one’s mouth water]{v. phr.} 1. To look or smell very good; make you want very much to eat or drink something you see or smell. •/The pies in the store window made Dan’s mouth water./ •/The picture of the ice cream soda made his mouth water./ 2. To be attractive; make you want to have something very much. •/Judy collects folk song records, and the records in the store window made her mouth water./ Compare: LICK ONE’S CHOPS.

[make one’s pile]{v. phr.} To make one’s fortune. •/The rich man made his pile in the stock market./

[make one’s way]{v. phr.} 1. To go forward with difficulty; find a path for yourself. •/They made their way through the crowd./ 2. To do many hard things to earn a living; make a life work for yourself. •/He was anxious to finish school and make his own way in the world./ Compare: SHIFT FOR ONESELF.

[make one tick]{v. phr.} To cause to operate; to motivate. •/He is so secretive that we are unable to figure out what makes him tick./

[make or break]{v. phr.} To bring complete success or failure, victory or defeat. •/Playing the role of Hamlet will make or break the young actor./

[make out]{v.} 1. To write the facts asked for (as in an application blank or a report form); fill out. •/The teacher made out the report cards and gave them to the students to take home./ •/Mrs. Smith gave the clerk in the store some money and the clerk made out a receipt./ 2. To see, hear, or understand by trying hard. •/It was dark, and we could not make out who was coming along the road./ •/They could not make out what the child had drawn. /•/The book had many hard words and Anne could not make out what the writer meant./ •/Mr. White does many strange things. No one can make him out./ Syn.: FIGURE OUT. 3. {informal} To make someone believe; show; prove. •/Charles and Bob had a fight, and Charles tried to make out that Bob started it./ •/The boy said he did not take the money but the teacher found the money in the boy’s desk and it made him out to be a liar./ 4. {informal} Do well enough; succeed. •/John’s father wanted John to do well in school and asked the teacher how John was making out./ •/The sick woman could not make out alone in her house, so her friend came and helped her./ 5. To kiss or pet. •/What are Jack and Jill up to? — They’re making out on the back porch./

[make over]{v.} 1. To change by law something from one owner to another owner; change the name on the title (lawful paper) from one owner to another. •/Mr. Brown made over the title to the car to Mr. Jones./ 2. To make something look different; change the style of. •/He asked the tailor to make over his pants. The tailor cut off the cuffs and put a belt across the back./

[make passes at] See: MAKE A PASS AT.

[make rounds]{v. phr.} To travel the same route, making several stops along the way. •/The milkman makes his rounds every morning./ •/The doctor makes the rounds of the hospital rooms./

[make sense]{v. phr.} 1. To be something you can understand or explain; not be difficult or strange. •/The explanation in the school book made no sense because the words were hard./ Compare: MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF. 2. To seem right to do; sound reasonable or practical. •/Does it make sense to let little children play with matches?/

[make short work of]{v. phr.} To finish rapidly. •/The cat made short work of the baby rabbit./ •/Tim was anxious to get to the movies so he made short work of his homework./

[make sit up]{v. phr.} To shock to attention; surprise; create keen interest. •/Her sudden appearance at the party and her amazingly low-cut dress made us all sit up./

[make something of]{v. phr.} 1. To make (something) seem important. •/When girls see another girl with a boy, they often try to make something of it./ 2. To start a fight over; use as an excuse to start a quarrel. •/Bob accidentally shoved Bill in the corridor, and Bill made something of it./ •/Ann didn’t like what Mary said about her. She tried to make something of what Mary said./ Compare: START SOMETHING.

[make sport of] See: MAKE FUN OF.

[make sure]{v. phr.} To see about something yourself; look at to be sure. •/Father makes sure that all the lights are off before he goes to bed./ •/Mary thought she had time to get to school but she ran all the way just to make sure./ •/Before you write your report on the life of Washington you should make sure of your facts./

[make the best of]{v. phr.} To do something you do not like to do and not complain; accept with good humor. •/The girl did not like to wash dishes but she made the best of it./ Compare: MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY.

[make the blood boil] See: MAKE ONE’S BLOOD BOIL.

[make the feathers fly]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To enjoy working; be strong and work hard. •/When Mrs. Hale did her spring cleaning she made the feathers fly./ 2. See: MAKE THE FUR FLY.

[make the fur fly] or [make the feathers fly] {v. phr.}, {informal} Say or write mean things about someone or to jump on and fight hard. •/A man fooled Mr. Black and got his money. Mr. Black will really make the fur fly when he finds the man./ •/Mrs. Baker’s dog dug holes in her neighbor’s garden. The neighbor really made the fur fly when she saw Mrs. Baker./

[make the grade]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make good; succeed. •/It was clear that Mr. Baker had made the grade in the insurance business./ •/It takes hard study to make the grade in school./ 2. To meet a standard; qualify. •/That whole shipment of cattle made the grade as prime beef./

[make the most of]{v. phr.} To do the most you can with; get the most from; use to the greatest advantage. •/She planned the weekend in town to make the most of it./ •/George studied hard. He wanted to make the most of his chance to learn./ •/The teacher went out of the room for five minutes and some bad boys made the most of it./ •/Bill liked Mary; he would do anything for her, and Mary made the most of it./ Compare: MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.

[make the scene]{v. phr.}, {slang} To be present; to arrive at a certain place or event. •/I am too tired to make the scene; let’s go home./

[make things hum] See: KEEP THINGS HUMMING.

[make time]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be successful in arriving at a designated place in short or good time. •/We’re supposed to be there at 6 P.M., and it’s only 5:30 — we’re making good time./ 2. To be successful in making sexual advances to someone. •/Joe sure is making time with Sue, isn’t he?/

[make tongues wag] See: TONGUES TO WAG.

[make tracks]{v. phr.}, {informal} To go fast; get a speedy start; hurry. •/Man, it’s time we made tracks!/ •/The boys made tracks for home when it began to get dark./ Compare: GET GOING, MAKE HASTE.

[makeup]{n.} (stress on "make") 1. Cosmetics. •/All the actors and actresses put on a lot of makeup./ 2. Attributive auxiliary in lieu of, or belated. •/The professor gave a makeup to the sick students./

[make up]{v.} (stress on "up") 1. To make by putting things or parts together. •/A car is made up of many different parts./ 2. To invent; think and say something that is new or not true. •/Jean makes up stories to amuse her little brother./ 3a. To do or provide (something lacking or needed); do or supply (something not done, lost, or missed); get back; regain; give back; repay. •/I have to make up the test I missed last week./ •/I want to go to bed early to make up the sleep I lost last night./ •/We have to drive fast to make up the hour we lost in Boston./ •/Vitamin pills make up what you lack in your diet./ •/The toy cost a dollar and Ted only had fifty cents, so Father made up the difference./ — Often used in the phrase "make it up to". •/Uncle Fred forgot my birthday present but he made it up to me by taking me to the circus./ •/Mrs. Rich spent so much time away from her children that she tried to make it up to them by giving them things./ Compare: MAKE GOOD. 3b. To do what is lacking or needed; do or give what should be done or given; get or give back what has been lost, missed, or not done; get or give instead; pay back. — Used with "for". •/We made up for lost time by taking an airplane instead of a train./ •/Saying you are sorry won’t make up for the damage of breaking the window./ •/Mary had to make up for the time she missed in school when she was sick, by studying very hard./ •/The beautiful view at the top of the mountain makes up for the hard climb to get there./ 4. To put on lipstick and face paint powder. •/Clowns always make up before a circus show./ •/Tom watched his sister make up her face for her date./ 5. To become friends again after a quarrel. •/Mary and Joan quarreled, but made up after a while./ Compare: BURY THE HATCHET. 6. To try to make friends with someone; to win favor. — Followed by "to". •/The new boy made up to the teacher by sharpening her pencils./

[make up one’s mind]{v. phr.} To choose what to do; decide. •/They made up their minds to sell the house./ •/Tom couldn’t decide whether he should tell Mother about the broken window or let her find it herself./ Contrast: ON THE FENCE.

[make waves]{v. phr.}, {informal} Make one’s influence felt; create a disturbance, a sensation. •/Joe Catwallender is the wrong man for the job; he is always trying to make waves./

[make way]{v. phr.} To move from in front so someone can go through; stand aside. •/The people made way for the king./ •/When older men retire they make way for younger men to take their places./

[mama’s boy]{n. phr.}, {informal} A boy who depends too much on his mother; a sissy. •/The other boys called Tommy a mama’s boy because he wouldn’t come out to play unless his mother stayed near him./

[man] See: COMPANY MAN, EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK, FRONT MAN, HIRED MAN, LADY’S MAN, NEW MAN, SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS, TO A MAN, YES-MAN.

[man] or [the man] {n.}, {slang} 1. The police; a policeman. •/I am gonna turn you in to the man./ 2. The boss; the leader; the most important figure in an organization or outfit. •/The man will decide./

[man-about-town]{n. phr.} A sophisticate; an idler; a member of cafe society; one who knows where the best plays and concerts are given. •/Ask Mark where to go when you’re in New York City; he’s a real man-about-town./

[manger] See: DOG IN THE MANGER.

[man in the moon]{n. phr.} An imaginary or nonexistent person (often used to indicate a person of ignorance). •/Stop asking me such difficult questions about nuclear physics; I know as much about it as the man in the moon./

[man in the street]{n. phr.} The man who is just like most other men; the average man; the ordinary man. •/The newspaper took a poll of the man in the street./ Compare: JOE DOAKES, JOHN Q. PUBLIC.

[manner] See: ALL MANNER OF, TO THE MANNER BORN.

[man of few words]{n. phr.} A man who doesn’t talk very much; a man who says only what is needed. •/The principal is a man of few words, but the pupils know what he wants./

[man of his word]{n. phr.} A man who keeps his promises and does the things he agrees to do; a man who can be trusted. •/My uncle is a man of his word./

[man of letters]{n. phr.} A writer; an author; a scholar. •/Chekhov was not only a practicing physician but also a first-rate man of letters./

[man of means]{n. phr.} A rich person. •/He became a man of means by successfully playing the stock market./

[man of parts]{n. phr.}, {literary} A man who has several different skills, talents, or qualities. •/The pianist is a man of parts. He wrote the piece he played, and he also plays the organ and paints well./

[man-of-war]{n. phr.} 1. A stinging jellyfish in the Gulf of Mexico. •/"No swimming today," the sign said, "as we have a man-of-war alert."/ 2. A large battleship displaying its national flag or insignia. •/The shipwreck victims were picked up by an American man-of-war./ 3. The albatross bird. •/After several days at sea we noticed some men-of-war majestically sailing through the skies./

[man-to-man]{adj.} Honest and full in the telling; not hiding anything embarrassing. •/Tom and his father had a man-to-man talk about his smoking pot./ Compare: HEART-TO-HEART.

[many] See: GOOD MANY or GREAT MANY, IN SO MANY WORDS, SO MANY.

[many a]{adj.} Many (persons or things) — Used with a singular noun. •/Many a boy learns to swim before he can read./ •/I have spent many a day in his home./

[many hands make light work] If many people work together, even a hard job becomes easier. — A proverb. •/Come on boys, many hands make light work. If we work together, we can finish painting the barn./

[many is me] There are a great number of (persons or things); many are the (persons or things). — Used at the beginning of a sentence with a singular noun. •/Many is the man I have lent money to./ •/Many was the time I ate at that restaurant./ Compare: MANY A.

[many moons ago]{adv. phr.} A long, long time ago. •/Many moons ago, when I was young, I was able to dance all night./

[map] See: PUT ON THE MAP.

[map out]{v. phr.} To arrange; lay out; plan. •/The candidate will meet with his campaign manager tomorrow to map out his campaign strategy./

[marble] See: HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS or HAVE ALL ONE’S MARBLES.

[March] See: MAD AS A HATTER or MAD AS A MARCH HARE.

[march] See: STEAL A MARCH ON.

[mare’s nest]{n. phr.} Something that doesn’t exist; a discovery that proves to be worthless. •/He claims that he has discovered a gasoline substitute but we suspect it will turn out to be a mare’s nest./

[marine] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES.

[mark] See: MAKE ONE’S MARK, TOE THE LINE or TOE THE MARK, UP TO THE MARK at UP TO PAR(2), WALK THE CHALK or WALK THE CHALK LINE or WALK THE CHALK MARK, WIDE OF THE MARK.

[markdown]{n.} A reduction in price. •/Joan asked, "Do you like my new sandals? They were markdowns at Marshall Field’s."/

[mark down]{v. phr.} 1. To lower the price. •/The department store marked down their prices on women’s sandals./ 2. To give a poor grade to a student. •/Peter was marked down for his numerous spelling errors./ 3. To make a written note of something. •/Here is my phone number; mark it down./

[marked man]{n. phr.} A man whose behavior has made him the object of suspicion; a man whose life may be in danger. •/When Dave dared to criticize the dictator openly, he became a marked man./

[market] See: FLEA MARKET, IN THE MARKET FOR, ON THE MARKET, PLAY THE MARKET.

[mark off]{v. phr.} Mark with lines; lay out in sections. •/The field will be marked off in accordance with the special track events that will take place tomorrow./

[mark one’s words]{v. phr.} To pay close attention to what one says; an emphatic expression indicating prophecy. •/"It will certainly rain tomorrow," he said. "Mark my words."/

[mark time]{v. phr.} 1. To move the feet up and down as in marching, but not going forward. •/The officer made the soldiers mark time as a punishment./ 2. To be idle; waiting for something to happen. •/The teacher marked time until all the children were ready for the test./ 3. To seem to be working or doing something, but really not doing it. •/It was so hot that the workmen just marked time./

[marry money]{v. phr.} To marry a rich person. •/Ellen married money when she became Hal’s wife./

[masking tape]{n.} A paper tape that is stuck around the edges of a surface being painted to keep the paint off the surface next to it. •/The painters put masking tape around the window frames to keep the paint off the glass./

[masse] See: EN MASSE.

[mast] See: NAIL ONE’S COLORS TO THE MAST.

[master copy]{n.} 1. A perfect text to which all copies are made to conform; a corrected version used as a standard by printers. •/The master copy must be right, because if it isn’t, the mistakes in it will be repeated all through the edition./ 2. A stencil from which other copies are made. •/Mr. Brown told his secretary to save the master copy so that they could run off more copies whenever they needed them./ •/The master copy was too light so many of the copies didn’t come out clear./

[master key]{n. phr.} A key that opens a set of different locks. •/The building janitor has a master key to all of the apartments in this building./

[mastermind]{v.} To create; direct; invent the central plan for several individuals to follow. •/Lenin masterminded the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia./

[mastermind]{n.} A person who supplies the intelligence for a project and/or undertakes its management. •/Winston Churchill was the mastermind in the war against Hitler./

[master of ceremonies] or [M.C.] or [emcee] {n.} The person in charge of introducing the various participants in a show or entertainment. •/Bob Hope was the M.C. of many memorable shows./

[mat] See: WELCOME MAT IS OUT.

[matter] See: FOR THAT MATTER, LAUGHING MATTER, NO MATTER, THE MATTER.

[matter of course]{n. phr.} Something always done; the usual way; habit; rule. •/A was a matter of course for John to dress carefully when he was meeting his wife./ •/Bank officers ask questions as a matter of course when someone wants to borrow money./

[matter of fact]{n. phr.} Something that is really true; something that can be proved. •/The town records showed that it was a matter of fact that the two boys were brothers./ •/It is a matter of fact that the American war against England was successful./ — Often used for emphasis in the phrase "as a matter of fact". •/I didn’t go yesterday, and as a matter of fact, f didn’t go all week./ •/Mary wasn’t wearing a blue dress. As a matter of fact, she hasn’t got a blue dress./ Compare: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT. Contrast: MATTER OF OPINION.

[matter-of-fact]{adj.} 1. Simply telling or showing the truth; not explaining or telling more. •/The newspaper gave a matter-of-fact account of the murder trial./ 2. Showing little feeling or excitement or trouble; seeming not to care much. •/When Mary’s father died she acted in a very matter-of-fact way./ •/He was a very matter-of-fact person./

[matter of opinion]{n. phr.} Something that may or may not be true; something that people do not all agree on. •/Whether or not he was a good general is a matter of opinion./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.

[matter of record]{n. phr.} A fact or event that is kept officially as a legal record. •/If you are convicted of speeding it becomes a matter of record./ •/A birth certificate or a marriage license is a matter of record./

[may] See: BE THAT AS IT MAY, COME WHAT MAY, LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

[M.C.] or [emcee] {v.} To act as master of ceremonies at a show. •/The famous actor emceed the entire television show./

[me] See: DEAR ME, PICK-ME-UP, SO HELP ME.

[mean business]{v. phr.}, {informal} To decide strongly to do what you plan to do; really mean it; be serious. •/The boss said he would fire us if we didn’t work harder and he means business./ •/When she went to college to study, she meant business./ •/He just liked the company of the other girls he dated, but this time he seems to mean business./

[means] See: BY ALL MEANS, BY MEANS OF, BY NO MEANS, WAYS AND MEANS.

[means to an end]{n. phr.} An action leading to some end or purpose. •/Money for him was just a means to an end; actually he wanted power./

[mean well]{v. phr.} To have good intentions. •/Fred generally means well, but he has a tendency to be tactless./

[measure] See: BEYOND MEASURE, FOR GOOD MEASURE, MADE-TO-MEASURE, TAKE ONE’S MEASURE or TAKE THE MEASURE OF.

[measure off]{v. phr.} To mark by measuring. •/She measured off three yards with which to make the new dress./

[measure up]{v.} To be equal; be of fully high quality; come up. •/John didn’t measure up to the best catchers but he was a good one./ •/Lois' school work didn’t measure up to her ability./ Compare up: TO PAR. Contrast: FALL SHORT.

[meatball]{n.}, {slang} A dull, boring, slow-witted, or uninteresting person. •/You’ll never get an interesting story out of that meatball — stop inviting him./

[medicine] See: TAKE ONE’S MEDICINE.

[medium] See: STRIKE A HAPPY MEDIUM.

[meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET.

[meet halfway] See: GO HALFWAY.

[meeting] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.

[meet one’s death]{v. phr.} To die. •/Algernon met his death in a car accident./

[meet one’s eye]{v. phr.} To be in plain view or come into plain view; appear clearly or obviously. •/When John rounded the bend, a clear blue lake met his eye./ •/On a first reading the plan looked good, but there was more to it than met the eye./

[meet one’s match]{v. phr.} To encounter someone as good as oneself. •/The champion finally met his match and lost the game./

[meet one’s Waterloo]{v. phr.} To be defeated; lose an important contest. •/After seven straight victories the team met its Waterloo./ •/John fought instead of running, and the bully met his Waterloo./ (After Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo.)

[meet up with]{v. phr.} To meet by accident; come upon without planning or expecting to. •/When he ran around the tree, Bob suddenly meet up with a large bear./ •/The family would have arrived on time, but they met up with a flat tire./

[meet with]{v.} 1. To meet (someone), usually by accident. •/In the woods he met with two strangers./ Syn.: COME UPON. 2. To meet together, usually by plan; join; have a meeting with. •/The two scouts met with the officers to talk about plans for the march./ 3. To experience (as unhappiness); suffer (as bad luck); have (as an accident or mishap). •/The farmer met with misfortune; his crops were destroyed by a storm./ •/The traveler met with an accident on the road./

[melt] See: BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH, MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH.

[melting pot]{n. phr.} A country where different nationalities mingle and mix with the result that, in the second generation, most people speak the main language of the country and behave like the majority. •/It is no longer considered entirely true that the United States is a melting pot; many immigrants speak a second language./

[melt in one’s mouth]{v. phr.} 1. To be so tender as to seem to need no chewing. •/The chicken was so tender that it melted in your mouth./ 2. To taste very good; be delicious. •/Mother’s apple pie really melts in your mouth./

[memory] See: IN MEMORY OF.

[mend] See: ON THE MEND.

[mend one’s fences]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do something to make people like or follow you again; strengthen your friendships or influence. •/The senator went home from Washington to mend his fences./ •/John saw that his friends did not like him, so he decided to mend his fences./

[mend one’s ways]{v. phr.} To reform; change one’s behavior from negative to positive. •/He had better mend his ways or he’ll wind up in jail./

[mental telepathy]{n. phr.} The passing of one person’s thoughts to another without any discoverable talking or carrying of signals between them. •/Mrs. Smith knew the moment her husband’s ship sank on the other side of the world. It seems like a case of mental telepathy./ •/Most or all men who practice mental telepathy on stage have really trained themselves to detect tiny clues from the audience./

[mention] See: NOT TO MENTION.

[meow] See: CAT’S MEOW.

[mercy] See: AT THE MERCY OF.

[mercy killing]{n. phr.} The act of killing a terminally ill patient or animal in order to avoid further suffering. •/Mercy killing of humans is illegal in most countries, yet many doctors practice it secretly./

[merrier] See: MORE THE MERRIER.

[merry] See: LEAD A MERRY CHASE, MAKE MERRY.

[message] See: GET THE MESSAGE.

[mess around]{v. phr.} 1. To engage in idle or purposeless activity. •/Come on, you guys, — start doing some work, don’t just mess around all day!/ 2. {vulgar} To be promiscuous; to indulge in sex with little discrimination as to who the partner is. •/Allen needs straightening out; he’s been messing around with the whole female population of his class./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.

[mess up]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To cause trouble; to spoil something. •/What did you have to mess up my accounts for?/ 2. To cause someone emotional trauma. •/Sue will never get married; she got messed up when she was a teenager./ 3. To beat up someone physically. •/When Joe came in after the fight with the boys, he was all messed up./

[method in (to) one’s madness]{n. phr.} A plan or organization of ideas hard to perceive at first, but that becomes noticeable after longer and closer examination. •/We thought he was crazy to threaten to resign from the university but, when he was offered a tenured full professorship, we realized that there had been method in his madness./

[mickey mouse(1)]{adj.}, {slang} Inferior; second rate; chicken; easy; gimmicky. •/Watch out for Perkins; he’s full of mickey mouse ideas./

[mickey mouse(2)]{n.} ({derogatory}) A stupid person; a policeman; a white man (as used by blacks).

[midair] See: UP IN THE AIR(2) also IN MIDAIR.

[middle] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM, IN THE MIDDLE.

[middle ground]{n.} A place halfway between the two sides of an argument; a compromise. •/John wanted to go running. Bill said it was too hot. Tom took the middle ground and suggested a hike./ •/The committee found a middle ground between the two proposals./

[middleman]{n.} A person or small business standing in an intermediary position between two parties. •/A retail merchant is the middleman between the factory and the consumer./

[middle of the road]{n. phr.} A way of thinking which does not favor one idea or thing too much; being halfway between two different ideas. •/The teacher did not support the boys or the girls in the debate, but stayed in the middle of the road./

[middle-of-the-road]{adj.} Favoring action halfway between two opposite movements or ideas; with ideas halfway between two opposite sides; seeing good on both sides. •/The men who wrote the Constitution followed a middle-of-the-road plan on whether greater power belonged to the United States government or to the separate states./ •/Senator Jones favors a middle-of-the-road policy in the labor-management dispute./

[midfield stripe]{n.} The line across the center of a football field; the 50-yard line. •/The visitors were able to cross the midfield stripe once during the whole game./

[midnight oil] See: BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.

[midstream] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM or CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM.

[might] See: WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.

[mighty] See: HIGH-AND-MIGHTY.

[mile] See: GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, JAW DROP or JAW DROP A MILE, MISS BY A MILE, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE.

[mile markers]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Small signs along interstate highways usually bearing a number. •/The Smokey is located at 131 mile marker./

[miles away]{adj. phr.} Inattentive; not concentrating. •/When Betty said, "We have theater tickets for tonight," Ken didn’t react as his mind was miles away./

[milk] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

[mill] See: RUN-OF-THE-MILL, THROUGH THE MILL.

[mill around]{v. phr.} To move impatiently in no particular direction. •/The crowd milled around, waiting for the arrival of the president./

[million] See: FEEL LIKE A MILLION, LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

[millstone around one’s neck]{n. phr.} An intolerable burden. •/Max said that his old car was a millstone around his neck./ Compare: MONKEY ON ONE’S BACK.

[mince words]{v. phr.} To choose words carefully for the sake of politeness or deception. •/I like people who speak frankly and truthfully without mincing words./

[mind] See: CROSS ONE’S MIND or PASS THROUGH ONE’S MIND, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE’S MIND, HALF A MIND, IN MIND, IN ONE’S MIND’S EYE, MAKE UP ONE’S MIND, NEVER MIND, ON ONE’S MIND, OUT OF ONE’S HEAD or OUT OF ONE’S MIND, PUT IN MIND OF, READ ONE’S MIND.

[mind like a steel trap]{n. phr.} A very quick and understanding mind, which is quick to catch an idea. •/Henry is not fond of sports, but he has a mind like a steel trap./ •/A successful lawyer must have a mind like a steel trap./

[mind one’s own business]{v. phr.} To not interfere in the affairs of others. •/He finally got tired of her criticism and told her to mind her own business./

[mind one’s p’s and q’s]{v. phr.} To be very careful what you do or say; not make mistakes. •/When the principal of the school visited the class the students all minded their p’s and q’s./ •/If you wish to succeed you must mind your p’s and q’s./ (From the old U.S. Navy when sailors marked on a board in the bar how many Pints and Quarts of liquor they had taken. It was bad manners to cheat.) Syn.: WATCH ONE’S STEP.

[mind-reader] See: READ ONE’S MIND.

[mind you]{v. phr.}, {informal} I want you to notice and understand. •/Mind you, I am not blaming him./

[mine] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES, RUN OF THE MILL or RUN OF THE MINE.

[mine of information]{n. phr.} A person, a book, etc., that is a valuable source of information. •/A dictionary can be a mine of information./ •/He is a mine of information on the stock market./

[minority leader]{n. phr.} The leader of the political party that has fewer votes in a legislative house. •/The minority leader of the Senate supported the bill./ •/The minority leader in the House of Representatives held a caucus./ Compare: MAJORITY LEADER.

[mint money] See: COIN MONEY.

[minutes of the meeting]{n. phr.} The notes taken by the recording secretary; of an official body or an association recording of what was said and transacted during the given session. •/"Shall we accept the minutes of our last meeting as read by the secretary?" the chairman asked./

[misfire]{v.} To fail to appeal; fall flat. •/The standup comic’s jokes misfired with the audience./ Compare: GO OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.

[miss] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT or HEART MISS A BEAT.

[miss a trick]{v. phr.} To fail to see, hear, or notice something of even the slightest importance. •/He never misses a trick when it comes to the stock market./

[miss by a mile]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To shoot at something and be far from hitting it; not hit near. •/Jack’s first shot missed the target by a mile./ 2. To be very wrong; be far from right. •/Lee tried to guess on the examination, but his answers missed by a mile./ 3. To fail badly; not succeed at all. •/John Brown wanted to be governor but in the election he missed by a mile./

[missing link] n. 1. Something needed to complete a group; a missing part of a chain of things. •/A 1936 penny was the missing link in John’s collection of pennies./ •/The detective hunted for the fact that was the missing link in the case./ 2. An unknown extinct animal that was supposed to be a connection between man and lower animals. •/The missing link would be half man and half ape./

[miss is as good as a mile] It is the same if one fails or misses something by much or by little. — A proverb. •/We thought Tom had a home run but the ball went foul by inches. A miss is as good as a mile./

[Missouri] See: FROM MISSOURI.

[miss out]{v.}, {informal} To fail; lose or not take a good chance; miss something good. •/Jim’s mother told him he missed out on a chance to go fishing with his father because he came home late./ •/You missed out by not coming with us; we had a great time./ Compare: LOSE OUT.

[miss the boat] also [miss the bus] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail through slowness; to put something off until too late; do the wrong thing and lose the chance. •/Mr. Brown missed the boat when he decided not to buy the house./ •/In college he didn’t study enough so he missed the boat and failed to pass./ •/Ted could have married Lena but he put off asking her and missed the boat./

[miss the point]{v. phr.} To be unable to comprehend the essence of what was meant. •/The student didn’t get a passing grade on the exam because, although he wrote three pages, he actually missed the point./

[mistake] See: BY MISTAKE.

[misty-eyed] or [dewey-eyed] {adj. phr.} 1. Having eyes damp with tears; emotional. •/The teacher was misty-eyed when the school gave her a retirement gift./ 2. Of the kind who cries easily; sentimental. •/The movie appealed to dewey-eyed girls./

[mixed bag]{n. phr.} A varied set of people, ideas, objects, or circumstances, including both the good and the bad. •/This report is a mixed bag of opinions./ •/There was a mixed bag of people at the press conference./

[mixed blessing]{n.} Something good that has bad features. •/John’s new bicycle was a mixed blessing. The other boys were always asking John to ride it./

[mixed up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Confused in mind; puzzled. •/Bob was all mixed up after the accident./ Compare: BALL UP(1). 2. Disordered; disarranged; not neat. •/The papers on his desk were mixed up./ 3. {informal} Joined or connected (with someone or something bad). •/Harry was mixed up in a fight after the game./ •/Mary’s father told her not to get mixed up with the students that always break school rules./

[mix up]{v.} To confuse; make a mistake about. •/Jimmy doesn’t know colors yet; he mixes up purple with blue./ •/Even the twins' mother mixes them up./ Compare: MIXED UP.

[molehill] See: MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

[moment] See: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.

[Monday] See: BLUE MONDAY.

[money] See: COIN MONEY or MINT MONEY, EASY MONEY, FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED, FOR LOVE OR MONEY, IN THE CHIPS or IN THE MONEY, MADE OF MONEY, MARRY MONEY, PUT ONE’S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE, RUN FOR ONE’S MONEY, SEE THE COLOR OF ONE’S MONEY, SPENDING MONEY or POCKET MONEY.

[money burns a hole in one’s pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE’S POCKET.

[money is no object]{informal sentence} The price of something is irrelevant. •/Please show me your most beautiful mink coat; money is no object./

[money to burn]{n. phr.}, {informal} Very much money, more than is needed. •/Dick’s uncle died and left him money to burn./ •/When Joe is twenty-one he will have money to burn./ •/Jean is looking for a husband with money to burn./ Compare: MADE OF MONEY.

[monkey] See: GREASE MONKEY, MAKE A FOOL OF or MAKE A MONKEY OF.

[monkey around] See: FUCK AROUND, HORSE AROUND, MESS AROUND.

[monkey business]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Any unethical, illegitimate, or objectionable activity that is furtive or deceitful, e.g., undercover sexual advances, cheating, misuse of public funds, etc. •/There is a lot of monkey business going on in that firm; you’d better watch out who you deal with!/ 2. Comical or silly actions; goofing off. •/Come on boys, let’s cut out the monkey business and get down to work!/

[monkey on one’s back]{n. phr.}, {informal} An unsolved or nagging problem. •/"My math course is a real monkey on my back," Jack complained./ Compare: ALBATROSS AROUND ONE’S NECK, MILLSTONE AROUND ONE’S NECK.

[monkey wrench] See: THROW A MONKEY WRENCH.

[monster] See: GREEN-EYED MONSTER.

[month in, month out] See: DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

[month of Sundays]{n. phr.}, informal A very long time. — Used for emphasis after "for" or "in" and usually with a negative verb. •/I have not had devil’s food cake in a month of Sundays./ •/When he got her first letter, he felt that he had not heard from her for a month of Sundays./ Syn.: DOG’S AGE.

[moon] See: ASK FOR THE MOON or CRY FOR THE MOON, DARK OF THE MOON, FULL OF THE MOON, ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, PROMISE THE MOON.

[moonshine]{n.} Illegally distilled alcoholic beverage made at home, mostly on a farm. •/Grandpa is at it again in the barn, making moonshine out of plums./

[mop the floor with] or [mop up the floor with] or [wipe the floor with] or [wipe up the floor with] {v. phr.}, {slang} To defeat very clearly or quickly; to beat badly. •/The bully threatened to mop up the floor with Billy./ •/Our team wiped the floor with the visiting team./

[mop up]{v. phr.} To disperse or liquidate isolated groups or detachments of opposing forces. •/Our forces won the basic battle but there still remain pockets of resistance they must mop up./

[mop up the floor with] See: MOP THE FLOOR WITH.

[more] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW.

[more often than not]{adv. phr.} More than half the time; fifty-one or more times out of a hundred; not quite usually, but fairly regularly. •/Nancy comes over on Saturday more often than not./ •/Ben is a fairly good runner. He wins more often than not./

[more or less]{adv. phr.} 1. Somewhat; rather; mostly; fairly. •/Earl made some mistakes on the test, but his answers were more or less right./ •/Ed is more or less intelligent./ •/Betty believes more or less in fairies./ Compare: IN A WAY. 2. About; nearly; not exactly, but almost. •/The new building cost more or less what the builder figured./ •/It is a mile, more or less, from his home to the school./ •/He has wanted to date her more or less since he first saw her./ Compare: OR SO.

[more than]{adv.} Over what you might expect; very. •/They were more than glad to help./ •/He was more than upset by the accident./ Contrast: LESS THAN.

[more than one can chew] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW.

[more than one could shake a stick at]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very many; a great many; more than you can count. •/There were more people at the game than you could shake a stick at./ •/I had more assignments for homework than I could shake a stick at./

[more the merrier]{n. phr.} The more people who join in the fun, the better it will be. — Used in welcoming more people to join others in some pleasant activity. •/Come with us on the boat ride; the more the merrier./

[morning after]{n.}, {slang} The effects of drinking liquor or staying up late as felt the next morning; a hangover. •/One of the troubles of drinking too much liquor is the morning after./ •/Mr. Smith woke up with a big headache and knew it was the morning after./

[Moses] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MOSES.

[moss] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.

[most] See: AT MOST, MAKE THE MOST OF.

[mother] See: TIED TO ONE’S MOTHER’S APRON STRINGS.

[motion] See: GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

[mountain] See: MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

[mouse] See: PLAY CAT AND MOUSE WITH.

[mouth] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH, BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH, BY WORD OF MOUTH, DOWN IN THE DUMPS or DOWN IN THE MOUTH, FOAM AT THE MOUTH, HEART IN ONE’S MOUTH, KEEP ONE’S MOUTH SHUT, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH, LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH, LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, MAKE ONE’S MOUTH WATER, MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH, PUT ONE’S FOOT IN IT or PUT ONE’S FOOT IN ONE’S MOUTH, PUT WORDS INTO ONE’S MOUTH, SHOOT OFF ONE’S MOUTH, STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE’S MOUTH, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH.

[mouthful] See: SAY A MOUTHFUL.

[mouth-watering]{adj.} Smelling or looking very good to eat. •/It was a mouth-watering meal./

[move] See: GET A MOVE ON, ON THE MOVE.

[move a muscle]{v. phr.} To move even a very little. — Used in negative sentences and questions and with "if". •/The deer stood without moving a muscle until the hunter was gone./ •/The girls were so startled that they did not move a muscle./ •/You’re sitting right where you were when I left! Have you moved a muscle?/ •/The robber said he would shoot the bank worker if he moved a muscle./

[move heaven and earth]{v. phr.} To try every way; do everything you can. •/Joe moved heaven and earth to be sent to Washington./ Compare: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

[move in on]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To take over something that belongs to another. •/He moved in on my girlfriend and now we’re not talking to each other./

[movement] See: LABOR MOVEMENT.

[moving spirit]{n. phr.} The main figure behind a business or an activity; the one who inspires the others. •/Mr. Smith is the moving spirit behind our expansion plans./

[much] See: AS MUCH AS, FOR AS MUCH AS, MAKE MUCH OF, SO MUCH, SO MUCH FOR, THINK A GREAT DEAL OF or THINK MUCH OF.

[much as] See: AS MUCH AS(1).

[much less]{conj.} And also not; and even less able or likely to. — Used after a negative clause. •/I never even spoke to the man, much less insulted him./ •/John couldn’t even pick up the box, much less carry it upstairs./ •/George can hardly understand arithmetic, much less algebra./ Compare: LET ALONE, NOT TO MENTION.

[mud] See: NAME IS MUD, STICK-IN-THE-MUD.

[mud in your eye]{n. phr.}, {informal} A cheering exclamation when people drink, much like "cheers!" •/Each time John raised his glass he said, "Well, here’s mud in your eye!"/

[mug shot]{n. phr.} A police photograph showing the arrested person’s full face and profile. •/"Go over these mug shots," Sergeant O’Malley said, "and tell me if you find the person who held up the liquor store!"/

[Muhammad] See: IF THE HILL WON’T COME TO MUHAMMAD, THEN MUHAMMAD MUST COME TO THE HILL.

[mull over]{v. phr.} To consider; think over. •/He mulled over the offer for some time, but finally rejected it./

[mum is the word] You must keep the secret; keep silent; don’t tell anyone. — Often used as an interjection. •/We are planning a surprise party for John and mum is the word./ •/"Mum is the word!" the robber captain told his men./

[murder] See: SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.

[muscle] See: MOVE A MUSCLE.

[muscle-bound]{adj.} Having your muscles large, hard, and tight from too much exercising; having muscles so developed that you can hardly move. •/Bob was big and strong, but he was muscle-bound, and Bill could beat him./ •/An athlete must train properly so as not to become muscle-hound./

[muscle in on]{v. phr.} To intrude; penetrate; force oneself into another’s business or territory. •/The eastern Mafia muscled in on the western Mafia’s turf and a shooting war was started./

[music] See: FACE THE MUSIC.

[musical chairs]{n. phr.} (Originally the name of a children’s game.) The transfer of a number of officers in an organization into different jobs, especially each other’s jobs. •/The boss regularly played musical chairs with department heads to keep them fresh on the job./

[music to one’s ears]{n. phr.} Something one likes to hear. •/When the manager phoned to say I got the job, it was music to my ears./

[mustard] See: CUT THE MUSTARD.

[muster] See: PASS MUSTER.

[my God] or [my goodness] {interj.} Used to express surprise, shock, or dismay. •/My God! What happened to the car?/

[my lips are sealed]{informal sentence} A promise that one will not give away a secret. •/"You can tell me what happened, " Helen said. "My lips are sealed."/