Make up meaning in English
Learn how to use Make up correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to make up (a story): to invent, to devise, to improvise, to create (a story)
(Women) make up (52% of the vote): (Women) form, represent, constitute, are (52% of the vote)
Examples
- "Listen, I really don't have time to speak to him right now, can't you just make up some sort of excuse to stop him from calling?"
- "Bruno : Okay Leonard, when you talk about "the people", and "the workers", and your "comrades", you do realize that union members make up just 1.3 percent of the staff at Delavigne?"
Exercise 1
Bruno uses the phrasal verb to make up.
For the following sentences, choose the best definition of the expression to make up.
"My wife and I had a huge argument yesterday, but we made up after I bought her some lingerie."
In this context, "to make up" means "".
"Did you believe his excuse? I think he just made it up."
In this context, "to make up" means "".
"Women make up 50% of the workforce."
In this context, "to make up" means "".
For the following sentences, choose the best definition of the expression to make up.
"My wife and I had a huge argument yesterday, but we made up after I bought her some lingerie."
In this context, "to make up" means "".
"Did you believe his excuse? I think he just made it up."
In this context, "to make up" means "".
"Women make up 50% of the workforce."
In this context, "to make up" means "".
Bruno uses the phrasal verb to make up.
For the following sentences, choose the best definition of the expression to make up.
"My wife and I had a huge argument yesterday, but we made up after I bought her some lingerie."
In this context, "to make up" means "to reconcile with one another 1".
"Did you believe his excuse? I think he just made it up."
In this context, "to make up" means "to invent or concoct a story 2".
"Women make up 50% of the workforce."
In this context, "to make up" means "to represent 3".
For the following sentences, choose the best definition of the expression to make up.
"My wife and I had a huge argument yesterday, but we made up after I bought her some lingerie."
In this context, "to make up" means "to reconcile with one another 1".
"Did you believe his excuse? I think he just made it up."
In this context, "to make up" means "to invent or concoct a story 2".
"Women make up 50% of the workforce."
In this context, "to make up" means "to represent 3".
1 to reconcile with one another: This is the correct answer. In this context, the expression "to make up" means to reconcile, such as might be done after an argument. For example: My sister and I have never made up since I kissed her husband at their wedding. This is not the sense in which Bruno uses the expression in this dialogue, however it is one of the common uses of the expression in English.
1 to forget about a problem: This is incorrect. "Made up" does not mean "to forget about a problem" in this or any context.
1 to discuss a matter in depth: This is incorrect. "Made up" does not mean "to discuss a matter in depth" in this or any context.
2 to invent or concoct a story: This is the correct answer. In this context, "to make (a story) up" means to invent (a story). A common example might be that you made up an excuse about your dog eating your homework at school; we all do it! This is not the sense in which Bruno uses the expression in this dialogue, however it is one of the common uses of the expression in English.
2 to speak the truth: This is incorrect. In fact this is the opposite of what "to make (an excuse) up" actually means.
2 to do something on purpose: This is incorrect. "To (do something) on purpose" is to do it "intentionally" or "deliberately". Example: Did you do it on purpose? Was it really your intention to do it?
3 to represent: This is correct. In this context the expression "to make up" is synonymous with "to represent" or "to constitute". Example: Our team is made up of three engineers and one salesman. When Bruno says to Leonard "you do realize that union members make up just 1.3 percent of the staff at Delavigne?", he means that only 1.3 percent of the staff at Delavigne are members of the union that Leonard represents.
3 to direct: This is incorrect. "To make up" does not mean "to direct". "To direct" is synonynmous with "to lead", "to control", "to manage" or 'to command.
3 were: This is incorrect. The use of the phrasal verb "to make up" in this sentence does not mean that women "were" or "used to be" 50% of the workforce.
Exercise 2
"just make up some sort of excuse to stop him from calling"
Which is the best synonym of "to make up"?
Which is the best synonym of "to make up"?
"just make up some sort of excuse to stop him from calling"
Which is the best synonym of "to make up"?
Which is the best synonym of "to make up"?
This is incorrect. "To attempt" means "to try". Example: I ATTEMPTED to swim the Atlantic Ocean but I failed. "To attempt" is not a synonym of "to make up".
In this context, "to make up (an excuse)" means to invent (an excuse), usually with the intention to deceive someone. Example: The student MADE UP an excuse about his dog eating his homework. In the conversation, Brian "makes up" an excuse about Bruno being dead to stop Mr. Floss from calling!
This is incorrect. "To provide" means "to give" or "to make available". Example: My company PROVIDES me with a mobile phone. "To provide" is not a synonym of "to make up".
This is incorrect. "To find" is not a synonym of "to make up".
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