Make up

make up & makes up making up made up made up

1. make... up p.v. When you invent a story to entertain or fool people, you make the story up. When you invent a lie to deceive people, you make the lie up.

174

My son asked me to make up a story about monsters.

Hank told his boss he was late for work because he had to go to the doctor, but he just made that excuse up.

made-up part.adj. When a story is invented or fictional, it is made-up. There's no truth to any of this — it's just a made-up story.

2. make up (of) p.v. [often passive] When people or things make up a larger thing, they together form that larger thing. When a larger thing is made up of people or things, they together form that larger thing.

Children under fifteen make up 50 percent of the population.

An airplane is made up of thousands of parts.

3. make... up p.v. When you make up your mind, make up your mind about something, or make up your mind about doing something, you decide which choice to make or which action to take.

/ like both the blue dress and the red dress. I can't make up my mind.

My daughter still hasn't made up her mind about which college to attend.

Marsha made her mind up about quitting her job and joining the Navy.

made up part.adj. After you make up your mind or make up your mind to do something, your mind is made up.

Don't waste your time talking to Tom about it — his mind is made up.

4. make... up p.v. When you have an amount of money that is not enough for a certain requirement and you add more money so that it will be enough, you make up the difference between the amount you have and the amount you need.

The cashier was supposed to have $755 at the end of her shift, but she had only $735, so she had to make the shortage up with her own money.

I didn't have enough saved to pay for college, but my Uncle Fred made up the difference.

5. make... up p.v. When you do something that you were required to do earlier but did not, such as attend a class, take a test, or complete a homework assignment, you make it up.

Karen asked the teacher about making up the test that she missed.

The teacher told her she could make it up tomorrow after school.

6. make... up p.v. [the noun and adjectives derived from this verb are much more commonly used than the verb itself] When you make yourself up, you put lipstick, eye shadow, and so on, on your face.

She made herself up and went to the party.

make-up n. Make-up is cosmetics: lipstick, mascara, and soon. Heather's father thinks she wears too much make-up.

175

made-up part.adj. After people have put on make-up, they are made-up.

Did you see Lydia? She's really beautiful when she's all made-up.

7. make up (with) p.v. When two people make up or make up with each other, they end an argument and resume friendly relations.

Sally and Jim had a big fight, but they made up the next day. Mr. Baker said he won't make up with his wife until she apologizes.

1. stay out p.v. When you stay out, you do not return to your house.

Do you let your kids stay out past 7:00?

I stayed out late last night, and I'm really exhausted.

2. stay out (of) p.v. When you stay out of a place, you do not go inside it.

Your father's busy cooking dinner, so stay out of the kitchen.

You can't come in here. Stay out!

3. stay out (of) p.v. When you stay out of a situation, such as an argument, fight, battle, or war, you do not get involved in it.

This fight doesn't involve you, so stay out.

Jake has stayed out of trouble since he left prison.