Make sth of sb Meaning, Examples & How to Use the Phrasal Verb

What Does “Make sth of sb” Mean?

“Make sth of sb” means to have an opinion or judgment about someone, often based on their actions or behavior.

Introduction

The phrase “make sth of sb” is a common English expression used to describe forming an opinion or impression about a person. When you make something of somebody, you judge their character, abilities, or intentions. This expression is often used in conversations when people discuss how they perceive others. Understanding the “make sth of sb meaning” helps learners express their thoughts clearly and accurately. It can be useful in both formal and informal settings to comment on someone’s personality or actions.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Make something of somebody
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To form an opinion about someone

Structure (Grammar Rules)

The phrasal verb “make sth of sb” is separable, meaning you can place the object “something” either before or after “of somebody.”

• Make something of somebody
• Make of somebody something (less common)

Usually, “make” is followed by “something” (often “anything,” “a lot,” or “much”) and then “of somebody.”

Example pattern: make + something + of + somebody

How to Use “Make sth of sb”?

Use “make sth of sb” when you want to express your opinion or judgment about a person. It often appears in questions, negative sentences, or when discussing impressions.

For example, you can ask, “What do you make of him?” meaning “What is your opinion about him?”

It can also be used to say someone is not impressive: “I don’t make much of his work.”

Examples

When meeting someone new, you might wonder about their personality or abilities. Here are some natural sentences using “make sth of sb in a sentence”:

• What do you make of Sarah? She seems very confident.
• I don’t make much of his explanation; it sounds unclear to me.
• People often make too much of his mistakes.
• She made something of her new colleague after the meeting.
• He didn’t make anything of the warning, which was a mistake.

Common Mistakes

When using “make sth of sb,” learners sometimes confuse the order of words or use it incorrectly in meaning. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: I make of him something interesting.
• Correct: I make something of him.
• Incorrect: Do you make him of anything?
• Correct: Do you make anything of him?

Remember to place “something” or “anything” before “of somebody.”

Differences / Synonyms

There are other expressions similar to “make sth of sb,” such as “think of sb,” “judge sb,” or “form an opinion about sb.” However, “make sth of sb” often implies a deeper or more thoughtful judgment.

For example, “think of sb” can be more casual: “What do you think of her?” means a simple opinion. “Make sth of sb” suggests you are trying to understand or evaluate someone more carefully.

Common Collocations

Here are some common objects used with “make sth of sb” and their meanings:

• Make something of somebody: form an opinion about a person
• Make much of somebody: consider someone important or impressive
• Make little of somebody: underestimate or ignore a person’s value
• Make anything of somebody: try to understand or judge someone

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of make sth of sb:

• Make Up For Sth
• Make Sb Over
• Make Towards Sb
• Make Sth Out
• Make Sth Over To Sb

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “make sth of sb”:

Anna: What do you make of the new teacher?

John: Honestly, I don’t make much of him. He seems too strict.

Anna: I thought he was pretty fair during the class.

John: Maybe, but I’m not convinced yet.

Practice

Try completing the sentences with the correct form of “make sth of sb”:

• 1. What do you ______ of the new manager?
• 2. I don’t ______ much of his ideas.
• 3. She made ______ of her colleague’s behavior.
• 4. Do you ______ anything of the report?

FAQs

• Q: Can “make sth of sb” be used in negative sentences?
  A: Yes, for example, “I don’t make much of him.”
• Q: Is “make sth of sb” formal or informal?
  A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Q: What does “make much of sb” mean?
  A: It means to think highly of someone.
• Q: Can I use “make sth of sb” to talk about strangers?
  A: Yes, it is common to form opinions about people you don’t know well.
• Q: Is “make sth of sb” separable?
  A: Yes, you can separate “make” and “of sb” with “something” or “anything.”