Make Up, Make Out, Make Up For

by Vocafy Disahkan

Inggeris (AS) B1 15 soalan Words & expressions

Discover the different meanings of these phrases in everyday conversations, from invented stories to fixing mistakes.

1. 1. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   What does “made up” mean here?

   A: Was the train really late?
   B: No. I made up that excuse because I overslept.

   • Invented something that was not true
   • Understood something that was unclear
   • Did something to fix a mistake

   The train was not actually late.

   Show solution

   • Invented something that was not true

   You can “make up” an excuse, a story, or an explanation that is not true.

2. 2. Isi tempat kosong.

   A: Are you still angry with your brother?
   B: No. We both said sorry and decided to ___.

   • make out
   • make up
   • make up for

   The brothers want to be friendly again.

   Show solution

   A: Are you still angry with your brother?
   B: No. We both said sorry and decided to make up.

   When people “make up” after an argument, they stop being angry with each other.

3. 3. Isi tempat kosong.

   I missed my sister's birthday. I'm planning a special dinner to ___ it.

   • make up
   • make out
   • make up for

   The dinner is meant to make a disappointing situation better.

   Show solution

   I missed my sister's birthday. I'm planning a special dinner to make up for it.

   “Make up for” connects a helpful action to the mistake or disappointment it is meant to fix.

4. 4. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   What does “make it out” mean here?

   A: What does that road sign say?
   B: It's too far away. I can't make it out.

   • Understand why the sign is there
   • Read the sign clearly
   • Invent a message for the sign

   Distance makes the words difficult to see.

   Show solution

   • Read the sign clearly

   “Make out” can mean see something clearly enough to recognize it, especially when it is far away.

5. 5. Isi tempat kosong.

   A: Do you want soup or a sandwich?
   B: Give me a minute. I can't ___ my mind.

   • make up
   • make up for
   • make out

   The speaker has not decided yet.

   Show solution

   A: Do you want soup or a sandwich?
   B: Give me a minute. I can't make up my mind.

   “Make up your mind” means decide. The words “your mind” are part of this fixed expression.

6. 6. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   What happened on the date?

   A: Did anything romantic happen on your date?
   B: Yes. We made out for a while before I went home.

   • They ended an argument.
   • They invented a romantic story.
   • They kissed each other.

   The question is about a romantic moment.

   Show solution

   • They kissed each other.

   In informal American English, “make out” can mean kiss someone for a while.

7. 7. Isi tempat kosong.

   The speaker is describing who belongs to the class.

   Nurses ___ more than half of our evening class. The other students work in shops or offices.

   • make up for
   • make out
   • make up

   Think about the people who form the group.

   Show solution

   Nurses make up more than half of our evening class. The other students work in shops or offices.

   “Make up” can mean form part of a whole. Here, nurses are the largest part of the class.

8. 8. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   What does the speaker still need to do?

   A: Is the guest room ready?
   B: Almost. I just need to make up the bed with clean sheets.

   • Prepare the bed for someone to sleep in
   • Build a new bed from separate parts
   • Pay for damage to the bed

   The bed is already there, but it needs clean sheets.

   Show solution

   • Prepare the bed for someone to sleep in

   “Make up a bed” means prepare it with sheets and other bedding. It does not mean build the furniture.

9. 9. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   What does “make out” describe here?

   A: What did Mia say on the phone?
   B: The connection was bad. I could only make out the word “Friday.”

   • Guessing what Mia might say next
   • Hearing a word clearly enough to recognize it
   • Repeating a word so Mia could hear it

   Most of Mia's words were lost because of the bad connection.

   Show solution

   • Hearing a word clearly enough to recognize it

   We also use “make out” for sounds that are difficult to hear, not just things that are difficult to see.

10. 10. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    What does “making herself up” mean here?

    A: Why is Lena sitting in front of that mirror?
    B: She's making herself up for the show.

    • Writing a story about herself
    • Doing extra work because she missed the show
    • Putting makeup on her face

    The mirror helps explain what Lena is doing.

    Show solution

    • Putting makeup on her face

    Here, “for the show” gives the reason for applying makeup. It is not part of the phrase “make up for.”

11. 11. Isi tempat kosong.

    A: Is that story true?
    B: No. I ___ myself.

    • made it up
    • made up it
    • made it up for

    “It” refers to the story.

    Show solution

    A: Is that story true?
    B: No. I made it up myself.

    With this meaning of “make up,” the pronoun goes in the middle: “make it up,” not “make up it.”

12. 12. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    What is the second speaker unable to do?

    A: Sam says he loved the movie, but he left after ten minutes.
    B: I can't make out why he left so early.

    • Hear Sam's words clearly
    • Understand Sam's reason for leaving
    • See Sam leaving the theater

    Sam's actions do not seem to match his opinion.

    Show solution

    • Understand Sam's reason for leaving

    Before a question word such as “why,” “make out” can mean understand something puzzling.

13. 13. Isi tempat kosong.

    A: You forgot to pick me up, and I had to walk home.
    B: I'm sorry. Let me make it up ___ you by paying for your next ride.

    • with
    • for
    • to

    The phrase points to the person who was disappointed.

    Show solution

    A: You forgot to pick me up, and I had to walk home.
    B: I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you by paying for your next ride.

    Use “make it up to” with a person, but “make up for” with a problem: “make up for my mistake.”

14. 14. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    What does the article do?

    A: The article makes Nora out to be rude.
    B: Really? I've always found her polite.

    • Describes Nora as a rude person
    • Explains how Nora stopped being rude
    • Suggests that Nora should apologize

    The second speaker disagrees with the article's description.

    Show solution

    • Describes Nora as a rude person

    “Make someone out to be” describes how someone is presented. That description may not be true or fair.

15. 15. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    What is the first speaker asking about?

    A: How are you making out in your new job?
    B: Pretty well. I'm learning quickly, and the team is helpful.

    • How clearly the other person can hear the team
    • How well the other person is doing at work
    • How the other person plans to fix a mistake

    The reply describes general progress in the job.

    Show solution

    • How well the other person is doing at work

    In informal American English, “How are you making out?” can mean “How are things going?”