Language Focus: Make Up

Part 1

Uses with Example Sentences

make up — to reconcile

To end an argument and become friendly again.

Barb and John made up again after their fight.
They always argue, but they always make up quickly.
It took a week, but the two friends finally made up.

make up / made up — to invent or fabricate

To invent a story, excuse, or reason — often one that isn't true.

That whole story sounds completely made up.
He made up an excuse for being late.
She's not sick — I think she just made that up.
The kids made up their own game with new rules.

make up — to constitute or form

To be the parts that form a whole.

Women make up over 60% of the workforce here.
Small businesses make up the majority of the economy.
What makes up a balanced diet?

make up — to compensate / do later

To do something that was missed, or to compensate for a loss or absence.

Students who were absent need to make up the exam.
Can I make up the class I missed on Friday?
She worked overtime to make up the hours she lost.

make it up to someone — to compensate emotionally

To do something kind or special for someone after you have let them down.

I'm sorry I missed your birthday — I'll make it up to you.
He felt guilty and wanted to make it up to her somehow.
"Don't worry," she said. "I'll make it up to you next time."

make up for — to compensate for something

To balance or cancel out something negative.

Nothing can fully make up for lost time.
His enthusiasm more than makes up for his lack of experience.
A great ending doesn't always make up for a slow start.

make up — to apply cosmetics

To put on cosmetics; also used as a noun.

She took thirty minutes to make up before the event.
He was already dressed but hadn't finished making up yet.
She barely wears any makeup on normal days.

make up — to prepare or assemble

To prepare or put together something, such as a bed or a package.

Can you make up the guest room before they arrive?
The pharmacist made up the prescription in about ten minutes.
She made up a package of snacks for the road trip.

Part 2

Idioms

make up your mind

to decide

Just make up your mind — we're waiting.
She couldn't make up her mind which dress to wear.
Have you made up your mind about the job offer yet?

make up the difference

to cover what is still missing

I only had $40, so my dad made up the difference.
The company will make up the difference in your salary.

make up lost ground

to recover after falling behind

After a slow start, the team made up lost ground.
She studied hard to make up lost ground after her illness.

make up the numbers (UK)

to be there just to fill a spot, without real purpose

I felt like I was just making up the numbers at that meeting.
He wasn't really needed — he was only there to make up the numbers.

Part 3

Key Collocations

Fabrication — what people make up

make up a story make up an excuse make up a lie make up a reason make up a name

Kids love to make up stories about dragons and heroes.
He made up an excuse so he wouldn't have to go.

Intensifiers — how made-up something is

completely made up totally made up just making it up partly made up

That statistic is completely made up — don't believe it.
I think he's just making it up as he goes.

Constitute — what things are made up of

make up most of make up the majority of make up the bulk of make up X%

Young voters made up the majority of the audience.
Carbohydrates make up the bulk of most people's diets.

Reconcile — how quickly people make up

quickly made up eventually made up never made up

They argued badly, but they quickly made up.
As far as I know, they never made up after that.

Part 4

Common Sayings & Expressions

"You can't make this stuff up."

Used when reality is so strange it sounds fictional. Very common in American English, especially in news and casual conversation.

The cat somehow ordered $300 of food online. You can't make this stuff up.
A clown showed up to the board meeting by mistake. I swear, you can't make this stuff up.

"Kissing and making up"

A vivid way to describe reconciling after a conflict. Often used informally or humorously.

After a week of silence, they were kissing and making up by Friday.
The two rivals surprised everyone by kissing and making up at the press conference.

"Make up or break up"

An informal expression used when a relationship has reached a turning point — either fix it or end it.

They've been arguing for months. It's time to make up or break up.
Friends told her: "Make up or break up — this can't go on forever."

"makeup artist"

A professional who applies cosmetics for film, TV, theater, or events. Commonly abbreviated as MUA.

The makeup artist spent two hours on the actor's costume look.
She trained as a makeup artist before moving into fashion.

Bonus

Makeup, Make-up, or Make Up?

The spelling changes depending on how the word is used. This is common in English when verbs become nouns or adjectives.

make up

two words → verb

They need to make up after the fight.

makeup

one word → noun (cosmetics)

She never wears much makeup.

make-up

hyphenated → modifier / noun

He needs a make-up exam.

made-up

hyphenated → adjective

That's a completely made-up word.

Note: American English generally prefers makeup (one word) for the cosmetics noun. British English often uses make-up (hyphenated).