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

make capital out of something • make money out
of something
make capital out of something —use a situation to one’s
advantage: The women to whom Napoleon addressed himself
were no longer adventuresses, who made capital out of their
relations with him.
make money out of something —gain or acquire money
through some source : He had heard of people who made
money out of shares, but that was about all he knew about
share investing.
make difficulties • present difficulties
make difficulties —raise objections; make trouble: Mary’s
father made difficulties when she said she wanted to marry a
poor schoolteacher.
present difficulties —(of things) create problems: The air-boat
seems to us one of the best ideas; but the working of it presents
many difficulties.
make down a bed • make up a bed
make down a bed —prepare sleeping accommodation not
previously available (when one has a visitor, etc.): Are you
going to sleep here tonight; if you are, my wife will make
down a bed for you.
make up a bed — = make down a bed: She made him up a
bed on the high white divan in her living-room — not a heap
of sleeping-bags and blankets but a real bed.
See also: make a bed / make one’s bed.
make for something • make up for something
make for something —
1
. move or travel towards a place: We
had now reached the Windward Passage and our old ship was
making for the open sea. 2. promote smth.; contribute to
smth.: Any international accord makes for a better under-
standing and recognizes the need for co-operative effort.
make up for something —compensate or repay for difficulties,
inconvenience, etc.: The location of the restaurant is indeed
very nice…. Nevertheless, that does not exactly make up for
the terrible service.