make something of somebody/something phrasal verb (see also make)

1. to have a particular opinion about or understanding of something or someone:
I didn’t know what to make of her.
What do you make of the idea?

2. to use the opportunities that you have in order to become successful:
I want to make something of my life.
make something of yourself
She has the ambition and talent to make something of herself.

3. make the most of something to get as much advantage as you can from a situation while you are able to:
We’ve only got one day in Paris, so we’d better make the most of it.

4. make too much of something to treat something as if it is more important than it really is:
It would be a mistake to make too much of these findings. ⇒ make much of somebody/something at much²(17)

5. make a day/night/evening of it informal to spend a whole day, night etc doing something, because you have chosen to:
We decided to take a picnic and make a day of it.
⇒ make a go of something at go²(3), ⇒ make the best of something at best³(9), ⇒ see what somebody is made of at made(4)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

make something of
make something of (yourself)
to achieve success.
I want to make something of myself so that my family will be proud of me.

She worked hard in school, hoping she could make something of her life.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make of
• make of (someone or something)
think or have an opinion about someone or something
"What do you make of the new manager in accounting."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make of something
• make of (someone or something)
think or have an opinion about someone or something
"What do you make of the new manager in accounting."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make of
v. phr. To interpret; understand.
What do you make of his sudden decision to go to Africa?

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make something of
v. phr.
1. To make (something) seem important.
When girls see another girl with a boy, they often try to make something of it.
2. To start a fight over; use as an excuse to start a quarrel.
Bob accidentally shoved Bill in the corridor, and Bill made something of it.
Ann didn't like what Mary said about her. She tried to make something of what Mary said.
Compare: START SOMETHING.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make of someone
• make of (someone or something)
think or have an opinion about someone or something
"What do you make of the new manager in accounting."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲