A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

make a big play of something • make great game
of something
make a big play of something —(also: make much play of some-
thing) treat smth. as very important in order to make an effect:
They get us out of the car and make a big play of examining
our papers.
make great game of something —make fun of smth.; ridicule
smth.: People made great game of the affair and called him
Thorgeir Bottleback, a name which stuck to him ever after.
See also: make play with something / play about with some-
thing.
make a bow • make one’s bow
make a bow —bow as a sign of respect or as a greeting: Mrs.
Everett made a cold bow, and, afflicted with sudden myopia,
did not see the hand held out.
Note: 
The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase
take a bow
— bow to acknowledge an introduction, applause,
etc.: She received a standing ovation and gracefully responded
by taking a bow.
make one’s bow —
1
. bow when making a formal exit or
entrance: “A mighty wet day, sir,” says I to Mr. Hock, stepping
up and making my bow. 2. (performing arts) make a formal
appearance for the first time: She made her bow in a small
club in this city.
make a business of something • make it one’s
business
make a business of something —make smth. one’s profession:
If you like to travel, you could make a business of transporting
other people’s cars to Florida.
make it one’s business —consider smth. one’s duty or respon-
sibility: Miss Leatheran had thereupon made it her business
to find out exactly what this foreigner was doing in their midst.
make a case for something • make a federal case
out of something
make a case for something —(also: make out a case for some-
thing) give good reasons why smth. should be done: You can
easily make a case for giving a placebo as being a valid course
of treatment.
make a federal case out of something —(also: make it a federal
case) complain too much; exaggerate the importance of smth.:
I only spilled my milk. Why make a federal case out of it.