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

make a mark in something • make the grade in
something
make a mark in something —(also: make one’s mark in some-
thing) leave a lasting impression; make oneself well-known in
a certain field: The photographs of community members who
made a mark in their area of activity adorn the walls.
make the grade —do acceptable work; reach the proper stan-
dard: The country still has a long way to go before it will
make the grade in areas like freedom of expression and
women’s rights.
make a meal from something • make a meal of
something
make a meal from something —prepare a meal using certain
ingredients: The men made a meal from bread and the meat
that had been cooked the night before.
make a meal of something —
1
. create a meal of smth., espe-
cially with the implication that one wouldn’t expect it to be
a complete or regular meal: You can make a meal of salad
on days when you want to keep your diet light. 2. (coll.) ex -
aggerate the importance of an event or situation: Predicta-
bly, anti-biotech groups have made a meal of this mis-
hap, blaming inadequate government regulation. 3. (coll.) put
more time and effort into smth. than it really needs: John
really made a meal of sorting out his desk. It took him all
day…
make a monkey of someone • monkey someone
make a monkey of someone —(U.S. sl.) mock a person; cause
smb. to look ridiculous (also: make a monkey out of someone):
At the thought of George Zen laughed outright. She had made
a monkey of him, and he deserved all he had got.
monkey someone —imitate smb.’s manner or style: Speaking
about original bands (meaning not monkeying others), I was
surprised how many bands stay firmly in their genre, adding
nothing original.
See also: go ape over someone / play the sedulous ape to some-
one.