Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 531 make up one`s mind - decide something I haven`t made up my mind about whether or not I will accept the new job. make up (something) - make something by putting things or parts together We made up the new machine by using parts from old machines. A car is made up of many different parts. make up (something/a story/an excuse) - invent a story, think and say something that is not true She made up the story about how she got lost in the mountains. make up (something/money/time) - do or supply something that is lacking, regain/repay something I had to make up the time that I was sick by working on Saturday. make up (with someone) - become friends again after a quarrel The girl made up with her friend after their fight last week. make use of (someone or something) - use someone or something I made use of my friends garage to keep some of my tools. make waves - create a disturbance He is very quiet at work and does not like to make waves. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 532 make way for (someone or something) - to stand aside, to move so someone or something can pass by The truck went to the side of the road to make way for the ambulance. . a man-about-town - a fashionable man who leads a sophisticated life My friend is a man-about-town and goes out almost every evening. man in the street - an average or ordinary person According to the man in the street the government is not very popular. man-to-man - frank or honest, direct I had a man-to-man talk with my friend about his problem last night. many is the time - on many occasions Many is the time that I have sat at home waiting for a phone call that never came. march to (the beat of) a different drummer - believe in a different set of principles My friend marches to the beat of a different drummer and always does what he thinks is the right thing to do. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 533 mark Idioms mark down (a price) - lower the price of something The store decided to mark down the prices of their winter coats. mark down (something) - make a note about something The traffic policeman marked down all of the cars that were parked illegally. mark my word(s) - remember what I'm telling you "Mark my words, if you do not finish your homework project you are not going to go out this weekend." mark time - be idle, wait for something to happen He has been marking time for over a month now as he waits to hear about the new job. mark time (to music) - move one`s feet up and down to music He was marking time to the music as he was driving his car. mark up (a price) - raise the price of something The store marked up the price of the camping equipment at the beginning of the summer. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 534 mark up (something) - mess something up with marks The child marked up the new table that her parents had just bought. . a marvel to behold - someone or something quite wonderful or exciting to see The new bridge was a marvel to behold and many tourists came to look at it. a match for (someone) - equal to someone in a contest The German soccer team was a match for the Brazilian team. to matter - to be important It does not matter if you come to work late tomorrow. a matter of course - the usual way/habit/rule Things were done as a matter of course and nobody thought about the results. a matter of fact - something that can be proved and is true It was a matter of fact that no taxes were paid by the company last year. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 535 a matter-of-fact manner/way - simply telling or showing the truth, seeming not to care much The witness described the murder in a matter-of-fact way. as a matter of fact - used to emphasize that something is true or actually happened "As a matter of fact, I saw him last night and he asked me how you were." a matter of life and death - an issue of great urgency It was a matter of life and death to rescue the young boy from the water quickly. a matter of opinion - a question about which there are different opinions It was a matter of opinion as to what design would be best for the new art gallery. to mean business - to be serious, to be ready to take action He is working very hard and means business when he says that he is going to get the office organized. to mean for (someone) to (do something) - intend for someone to do something I mean for my friend to get the free ticket and not anyone else. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 536 to mean nothing to (someone) - have no effect or feeling for someone My uncle is very wealthy and to lose money in a business transaction means nothing to him. to mean (something) to (someone) - have an effect or feeling for someone I always tell my mother about my job situation because it means a lot to her. to mean to (do something) - plan or intend to do something I always mean to go to a movie but I never have enough time. mean well - to have good intentions, to try to be kind and helpful Although the woman means well, she always seems to cause herself many problems. meant to be - destined to exist/happen It was not meant to be that I would win some money in the lottery. measure up to (someone or something) - be equal to someone or something, be of the same quality as someone or something The new accounting manager does not measure up to the previous accounting manager. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 537 meat and potatoes - basic and strong, have simple tastes in food and other things My friend's taste in food and life is one of a basic meat-and-potatoes approach. a Mecca for (something) - a place that is popular with people for some reason (from the city of Mecca which is the religious center of Islam) The small area of lakes is a Mecca for people who like to fish. meet Idioms meet one's end/death - die The elderly man met his death in an accident while walking across the street. meet one's match - meet one's equal Our team met their match when they had to play the best team in the city. meet one's Waterloo - meet one's final and most insurmountable challenge (Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo) The team met their Waterloo when they went to the tournament to meet the best teams in the country. meet (someone) half-way - make a compromise with someone He is very stubborn and is never willing to meet his friends half-way. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 538 meet the requirements (for something) - fulfill the requirements for something The new nurse does not meet the requirements to be a nurse in our hospital. meet up with (someone or something) - meet someone or something by accident or without expecting to The young man met up with a nice group of people while he was traveling in Australia. . a meeting of minds - complete agreement The members of our group had a meeting of minds and we all decided to go to a movie. melt in one`s mouth - taste very good, taste delicious The pastry that my grandmother made melted in my mouth. mend fences with (someone) - do something to repair a relationship after a fight or other problem I made an effort to mend fences with my friend after our recent fight. mend one`s ways - improve one`s habits The woman was forced to mend her ways in order to do better at work. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 539 mention (someone or something) in passing - mention someone or something casually I mentioned a friend of mine in passing when I was talking to my father. mess around/about - to play around or engage in idle activity The children were messing around in the school yard before the class began. mess up - cause trouble, spoil something He messed up his chance to get a promotion by not making any effort during the year. middle of the road - halfway between two different ideas, seeing good on both sides of an issue The mayor was elected because his ideas were very middle of the road. might as well - be somewhat preferable to do something "We might as well go home now. I don`t think he will come." a milestone in someone's life - a very important event or point in one's life The high school graduation ceremony was a milestone in the young woman's life. the milk of human kindness - natural kindness and sympathy shown to others The woman who volunteered at the hospital was full of the milk of human kindness. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 540 milk (someone) for (something) - pressure someone into giving information or money The boy was milking his friend for as much money as he could. a millstone around (someone's) neck - a continual burden or handicap The empty store was a millstone around the neck of the small businessman. mince (one's) words - make one's statement weaker by choosing weak or polite words I tried not to mince my words when I went to ask my neighbor to keep quiet. mind one's manners - be careful to use good manners I was asked to mind my manners when I was serving myself food at the buffet table. mind one's own business - attend only to the things that concern one I asked my friend to mind his own business when he asked me about my problems with my father. mind one`s P`s and Q`s - be very careful about what one does or says You should mind your P`s and Q`s and not say anything to offend your aunt. . - make something by putting things or parts together We made up the new machine by using parts from old machines. A car is made up of many different parts. make up (something/a story/an. care much The witness described the murder in a matter-of-fact way. as a matter of fact - used to emphasize that something is true or actually happened "As a matter of fact, I saw. volunteered at the hospital was full of the milk of human kindness. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 540 milk (someone) for (something) - pressure someone into giving information or money The