Phrasal verbs starting with 'make' and 'call'

Make for (Something)

1. = to move towards something or a place

• Make for the hills, a tsunami is approaching!
• He made for his apartment a couple of hours ago.

2. = to contribute to, lead to or cause a result or situation.

• Shakespeare's writing makes for a difficult read.
• His gift of $1,000 will certainly make for a happy birthday.
• Both candidates are popular so it should make for an interesting election.

Make (somebody/something) into (somebody/something)

1. = to convert one thing into another thing

• His parents made his bedroom into a billiards room once he moved out.
• His father said that joining the army would make him into a real man, but he was wrong.

Make (something) out

1. = to just be able to hear, read or see something

• He spoke so quietly we could hardly make out what he was saying.
• If you can make out the billboard from such a distance you really have excellent vision.

2. = to fill out the details of a document (usually a check)

• You can make out the cheque to Woodward Ltd.

Make (something) out to be

1. = to claim; to assert

• He makes himself out to be an important artist but his paintings are utter garbage.
• I think the critics make that movie out to be more profound than it really is.

Make of

1. = to try to understand and find a reason for something

• I don't know what to make of her suddenly unfriendly attitude towards me.
• Can you make anything of these ruins?

2. = to think and have an opinion about something

• What do you make of the new policy the president signed?

Make off

1. = To hurry away, especially in order to escape

• The thieves had to make off in their car when the police arrived.
• The pop star made off from the concert before the fans could find him.

Make off with

1. = To steal something and (quickly) take it away.

• The looters made off with all the laptops that were in the computer store.

Make out

1. = Manage; fare; deal with. Usually used informally in a question after "How...?"

• How did you make out yesterday on the biology test?
• How is she making out with the recent death of her mother?

2. = slang for to kiss and grope, though not to have sex.

• We were making out in the gym and got caught by the teacher

Make (somebody) out

1. = To understand a person's character

• Since she is normally quiet and reserved it is hard to make her out.

Make (something) over to (somebody)

1. = Transfer ownership

• The government of Mugabe made all the lands of the whites over to black African farmers.

CALL FORTH = make something happen

The tsunami in Indonesia called forth a great deal of humanitarian aid from around the world.

CALL IN =  get someone to come and do sth /short visit

We had to call in a plumber because our drain was clogged/
 The Smith's called in last night and we had a pleasant visit.

CALL OFF = cancel

The reunion was called off because not enough people could attend.

CALL ON = A. visit / ask a student a question in class

A. We called on the Jones family last Sunday afternoon.
B. The teacher called on Scott who knew the answer, fortunately.

CALL ROUND = visit

I'll call round in the evening if that's ok?

CALL UP = A. summons for military service / telephone

 He was called up to active duty when the war broke out/
 Why don't you call up a friend and see if they want to go to town with us?