make something of
Turn into something
To make something of a situation, opportunity, or person is to turn it into something worthwhile or successful.
She was determined to make something of her life.
The phrase often carries a sense of transformation—taking raw material or potential and developing it into achievement.
He finally made something of himself after years of drifting.
In a confrontational sense, You want to make something of it? challenges someone to escalate a dispute.
Favorable outcome attained
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- attainmentSuccessful reaching of goal
- fulfillmentState of achieved purpose
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
achievement · progress · advancement · ambition · aspiration · milestone · breakthrough · excellence
Point of contention
- challengeTest of ability
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- conflictOpposition between parties
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
tension · disagreement · address · tackle · broach · air out · hash out · settle
What something signifies
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- readingInterpreting written text
- significanceQuality of mattering
inference · implication · perspective · viewpoint · analysis · explanation · nuance · subtext
success
Favorable outcome attained
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- attainmentSuccessful reaching of goal
- fulfillmentState of achieved purpose
triumph · achievement · progress · advancement · ambition · aspiration · milestone · breakthrough · excellence · recognition
issue
Point of contention
argument · tension · disagreement · address · tackle · broach · air out · hash out · settle · resolve
meaning
What something signifies
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- readingInterpreting written text
significance · inference · implication · perspective · viewpoint · analysis · explanation · nuance · subtext · contextualize
make something ofsquander
Use up carelessly
waste · fritter away · throw away · piss away · neglect
make something ofcome to nothing
Produce no result
go nowhere · fail · flounder · stagnate · languish
make, something, makes, making, maker, makers, remake, remaking, some