Made in the shade One has an easy time in life or in a given situation. Finding things working to one’s benefit. Made of money If you are made of money, you have a lot of money. Make a killing If you make a killing, you do something that makes you a lot of money. Make a mountain out of a molehill If somebody makes a mountain out of a molehill, they exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a problem. Make a pitch If you make a pitch for something, you make a bid, offer or other attempt to get it. Make a request If you request something, or make a request, you are asking for something you want or need. Make a song and dance (UK) If someone makes a song and dance, they make an unnecessary fuss about something unimportant. Make ends meet If somebody finds it hard to make ends meet, they have problems living on the money they earn. Make headway If you make headway, you make progress. Make money hand over fist If you make money hand over fist, you make a lot of money without any difficulty. Make my day If something makes your day, it satisfies you or makes you happy. Make no bones about it If somebody make no bones about a scandal in their past, they are open and honest about it and show no shame or embarrassment. Make or break A make or break decision, stage, etc, is a crucial one that will determine the success or failure of the whole venture. Make waves If someone makes waves, they cause a lot of trouble. Make your blood boil If something makes your blood boil, it makes you very angry. Make your hair stand on end If something makes your hair stand on end, it terrifies you. Make yourself scarce If someone makes themselves scarce, they go away from a place, especially to avoid trouble or so that they can’t be found. Man of his word A man of his word is a person who does what he says and keeps his promises. Man of letters A man of letters is someone who is an expert in the arts and literature, and often a writer too. Man’s best friend This is an idiomatic term for dogs. Man’s man A man’s man is a man who does things enjoyed by men and is respected by other men. Many hands make light work This idiom means that when everyone gets involved in something, the work gets done quickly. Many happy returns This expression is used to wish someone a happy birthday. March to the beat of your own drum If people march to the beat of their own drum, they do things the way they want without taking other people into consideration. Mark my words Mark my words is an expression used to lend an air of seriousness to what the speaker is about to say when talking about the future. You often hear drunks say it before they deliver some particularly spurious nonsense. Marked man A marked man is a person who is being targeted by people who want to do them harm or cause them trouble. Matter of life and death If something is a matter of life and death, it is extremely important. Meat and potatoes The meat and potatoes is the most important part of something. A meat and potatoes person is someone who prefers plain things to fancy ones. Meet someone halfway If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their ideas and make concessions. Meet your Maker If someone has gone to meet their Maker, they have died. Meet your match If you meet your match, you meet a person who is at least as good if not better than you are at something. Melt your heart If something melts your heart, it affects you emotionally and you cannot control the feeling. Melting pot A melting pot is a place where people from many ethnicities and nationalities live together. Mend fences When people mend fences, they try to improve or restore relations that have been damaged by disputes or arguments. Method in his madness If there’s method in someone’s madness, they do things in a strange and unorthodox way, but manage to get results. Mickey Mouse If something is Mickey Mouse, it is intellectually trivial or not of a very high standard. Middle of nowhere If someone says that he/she is in the middle of nowhere, he/she means that he/she is not sure where he/she is. Mind over matter This idiom is used when someone uses their willpower to rise above adversity. Mint condition If something is in mint condition, it is in perfect condition. Miss is as good as a mile A miss is as good as a mile means that if you fail, even by the smallest margin, it is still a failure. Miss the boat If you miss the boat, you are too late to take advantage of an opportunity. Mom and pop (USA) A mom and pop business is a small business, especially if it is run by members of a family. It can used in a wider sense to mean that something is small scale. Money doesn`t grow on trees This means that you have to work to earn money; it doesn’t come easily or without effort. Money talks This means that people can convey many messages with money, and many things can be discovered about people by observing the way they use their money. Money to burn If someone is very rich, they have money to burn. Monkey business If children get up to monkey business, they are behaving naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as ‘monkeying around’. Monkey see, monkey do This idiom means that children will learn their behaviour by copying what they see happening around them. More than meets the eye If there is more than meets the eye to something, it is more complex or difficult than it appears. More than one string to their bow A person who has more than one string to their bow has different talents or skills to fall back on. More than you can shake a stick at If you have more of something than you can shake a stick at, then you have a lot. Move heaven and earth Mover and shaker A person who is a mover and shaker is a highly respected, key figure in their particular area with a lot of influence and importance. Mud-slinging If someone is mud-slinging, they are insulting someone and trying to damage that person’s reputation. Mummy’s boy A man who is still very dependent on his mother is a mummy’s boy. Music to my ears If something someone says is music to your ears, it is exactly what you had wanted to hear. Mutton dressed as lamb My foot! This idiom is used to show that you do not believe what someone has just said. My hands are tied If your hands are tied, you are unable to act for some reason. |