Make an example of


Punish someone so as to be a warning to others, as in The teacher made an example of the boy she caught cheating, or The judge imposed a tough sentence to make an example of the car thieves. This usage is first recorded in John Wycliffe’s followers’ translation of the Bible (c. 1382).

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  • Make an exhibition of oneself

    Show off or otherwise embarrass oneself in public, as in When Mike has too much to drink he’s apt to make an exhibition of himself. The first recorded use of this term was in Charles Dickens’s A Child’s History of England (1853).

  • Make an exception

    Exempt someone or something from a general rule or practice, as in Because it’s your birthday, I’ll make an exception and let you stay up as late as you want. This expression was first recorded about 1391.

  • Make a night of it

    see under make a day of it

  • Make an impression

    Produce a strong effect on one. This phrase is often qualified with an adjective such as good, bad, strong, or the like. For example, He tried to make a good impression on his girlfriend’s parents, or Be careful or you’ll make a bad impression on the jury, or You made quite an impression with that […]

  • Make an omelet

    Related Terms you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs


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