make-up
Chunk: make up
Meaning & Usage
Make up is a highly versatile phrasal verb with two primary conversational meanings. First, it means to invent a story, lie, or excuse (often to avoid trouble). Second, it means to forgive someone and become friends again after an argument.
🧲 Common Collocates
- Inventing (Deception): make up an excuse, make up a lie, make up a story, make it up as you go.
- Reconciling (Relationships): make up after a fight, kiss and make up, try to make up with someone.
💬 Contextual Examples
- I didn't do my homework, so I had to make up an excuse about my dog eating it.
- They argue all the time, but they always make up the next day.
- Is that a true story, or did you just make it up?
🎴 Interactive Web Practice
Practice 1: I don't believe you. I think you are making ______ that story.
Answer:
up Practice 2: It's time for you two to apologize and ______ up.
Answer:
make Practice 3: He was late for work, so he made up an ______ about traffic.
Answer:
excuse 🔗 Knowledge Base Connections
- 🔑 Parent Keyword: make
- ⚖️ Synonym Chunk (Reconcile): patch-things-up