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

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase make a play for something— make a conspicuous at -
tempt to gain or acquire smth.: Tony is left to decide whether
he will make a play for the top job in the family or concede
control to his uncle.
play about with something —(also: play around with some-
thing )
1
. amuse oneself manipulating smth. (to explore its pos-
sibilities): I’ve been playing about with my camera a lot
recently, as such I’ve got lots of pictures to share. 2. cause dis-
order to smth.; interfere with smth.: I recently moved my bed
into the living room because of the cold and it has been playing
about with my sleep.
See also: make a big play of something / make great game of
something.
make someone open his eyes • make someone
open his eyes wide
make someone open his eyes —
1
. make smb. stare in surprise;
amaze a person greatly: It really makes me open my eyes in
amazement when people think it is impossible to live like this.
2. cause a person to realize smth.; make smb. see reason: It
was the humiliation in Adelaide that made them open their
eyes and realize the mess that they were in.
make someone open his eyes wide — = make someone open his
eyes 
1
: From behind, at the back of the chapel, came a voice,
one that made him open his eyes wide in surprise.
make someone’s blood boil • make someone’s
blood freeze
make someone’s blood boil —make smb. very angry or indig-
nant: It used to make my blood boil to think that such things
couldn’t be prevented.
Note: 
a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with
the phrase warm someone’s blood—(also: warm someone’s heart)
make a person feel eager or excited: The real estate section of
the paper did not excite his envy or warm his blood. He had
never wanted a country estate.
b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase