Phrases & Expressions

To attract a lot of attention or become popular quickly.

• Nicole's beautiful cousin from Santo Domingo made a splash at the high school dance.
• Those new jeans really made a splash — all the kids are wearing them.

To do something to show you are sorry for a mistake or for hurting someone.

• I'll make amends for breaking your vase.
• He tried to make amends by helping her move.

To pretend that something is true, especially as a game.

• The children love to make believe they are superheroes.
• Let's make believe we're on a pirate ship.

To use what you already have and repair things instead of buying new ones.

• In tough times, we must make do and mend.
• Her grandmother taught her to make do and mend.

To do something nice for someone because you have upset or disappointed that person.

• I'll make it up to you with a nice dinner.
• He bought her flowers to make it up to her.

To stop feeling guilty about eating and stop treating some foods as forbidden.

• After years of dieting, she decided to make peace with food.
• Making peace with food means eating what you want.

To reach an agreement by making concessions from both sides.

• We need to meet in the middle on this issue.
• They finally met in the middle after long talks.

A person who is extremely anxious, stressed, or worried.

• Ted was a nervous wreck before his chemistry test.
• Whenever Nicole rides on the back of her friend's motorcycle, Susan becomes a nervous wreck.

The most basic, practical details of a subject or job.

• I don't need to know the nuts and bolts of how the computer works; I just want it to work.
• The seminar will cover the nuts and bolts of starting a small business.

Far from busy or well-known places; not a typical tourist destination.

• We found a lovely little cafe off the beaten track.
• The hotel was a bit off the beaten track, but peaceful.