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

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase there’s no mistaking— it is impossible not to recognize
smb. or smth.: There’s no mistaking the sect’s women by their
black poke-bonnets.
make nothing of something • make nothing out of
something
make nothing of something —
1
. treat smth. lightly: He said
he’d call me the next morning. He didn’t call until early eve-
ning but I made nothing of it. 2. fail to understand smth.:
The audience, used to jazz singers, satire companies or stand-
up comedians, could make nothing of his work.
make nothing out of something —make no profit out of smth.:
So he gave away every cent he made from that movie — he
made nothing out of it.
make off with oneself • make off with someone
make off with oneself —(rare) depart or leave a place sud-
denly: Dietrich had made off with himself … there was doubt-
less good reason for his wishing to be out of the way.
make off with someone —(of lovers, etc.) run off with smb.;
– 231 –
make off with oneself

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elope with a person: He readily admitted that he had made
off with the wife of French publisher Victor Bohain.
make one’s own way • make one’s way
make one’s own way —follow one’s inclinations; act inde-
pendently: He wanted to find a new direction but could find
no clues in contemporary art and had to make his own way.
make one’s way —
1
. proceed forward, especially with diffi -
culty: As soon as he saw us, Henry made his way through the
crowd to greet us personally. 2. make good progress; achieve
success: But David was not discouraged: he was young, enthu-
siastic, determined to make his way. 3. (of a custom, tradition,
etc.) become generally accepted: The papers don’t yet talk of
it, but the idea is making its way into even the best-balanced
minds.