make something of

deuten, verstehen

Sich eine Vorstellung davon machen, was etwas bedeutet oder wie es zu verstehen ist.

In einfachem Englisch: To form an idea about what something means or how you should understand it.

• Can you make anything of this note?
• I could not make much of his reply.
• She tried to make something of the strange message.

So benutzt man es: make something/anything/nothing of something (I cannot make anything of this message.); what do you make of something? (What do you make of her explanation?)

Synonyme: interpret, understand

Häufige Wendungen: make something of this, make something of remarks

etwas aus etwas machen

Die Möglichkeiten einer Person oder Sache nutzen, damit etwas Nützliches, Erfolgreiches oder Wertvolles daraus wird.

In einfachem Englisch: To help a person or thing become useful, successful, or valuable.

• He wants to make something of himself.
• She made something of a difficult childhood.
• We can make something of this opportunity.

So benutzt man es: make something of someone/something (She wants to make something of her talent.)

Synonyme: develop, improve

Häufige Wendungen: make something of yourself, make something of life

Streit anfangen wegen

Etwas zum Anlass für Streit oder eine Herausforderung machen, oft indem man jemanden zum Widerspruch auffordert.

In einfachem Englisch: To turn a point into an argument or challenge, often by inviting someone to object.

• Want to make something of it?
• He dared me to make something of his insult.
• She called him lazy, and he wanted to make something of it.

So benutzt man es: want to make something of it? (Yes, I took your seat. Want to make something of it?)

Synonyme: make an issue of, pick a fight over

Häufige Wendungen: make something of it, make something of that