What are Do and Make? Differences between Do and Make in English

Idiom, phrase, collocation used with Do

Meaning

Example

Idioms

Do as you would be done by

You believe in treating others as you would like them to treat you

If everyone followed the principle of doing as you would be done by, the world would be a more harmonious place. 

That does it!

Used to tell someone or something goes further than the limit of what is acceptable

After weeks of frustration, John finally said, "That does it! I'm quitting this job." 

That'll do!

Used to tell someone to stop behaving badly

That'll do, Timothy! Please just sit down and keep quiet. 

That's done it!

Used to tell someone or something has caused damage or difficulty

Jack accidentally spilled coffee on his laptop. He exclaimed, "Oh no, that's done it! It's not working anymore." 

What's done is done

Said when you cannot change something that has already happened

Despite regrets, Sarah realized she couldn't change the past and said, "What's done is done. I'll learn from it." 

Phrasal verbs

Do away with someone/something

To get rid of something or stop using something

The company decided to do away with its outdated software and invest in new technology. 

Do someone down

To criticize someone in order to make them feel ashamed or to make other people lose respect

Mary has been feeling depressed lately because her friend Sarah keeps making her down. 

Do someone in

To make someone extremely tired

The long hours of work and stress began to do Peter in, and he decided to take a vacation to relax. 

Do something out

To decorate something

Let's do the garden out with some new plants and decorations. 

Do someone out of something

To stop someone from getting or keeping something, especially dishonestly or unfairly

The dishonest salesman tried to do the customer out of his money by selling a faulty product. 

Collocations

Do housework

Every Saturday, Merry spends the morning doing housework, cleaning and organizing her home. 

Do an experiment

The students were excited to do an experiment in the chemistry lab to test a hypothesis. 

Do business

The two companies decided to do business and collaborate on a new project. 

Do one’s makeup

Before the party, Maria took her time to do her makeup and choose the perfect outfit. 

Do exercises

To stay fit, Jennie makes a habit of doing exercises like jogging regularly.

Do acts as the main verb

Example

Perform something

What do you often do on the weekend? 

Achieve something

Maria does the crossword in the newspaper every day. 

Act or take action

(+homework, job, task, work)

I’m going to do some work in the garden this weekend. 

Study a subject

All children have to do English in primary school. 

Take part in an activity

I did a lot of hiking and mountain-climbing when I was younger. 

Make, produce, or create something

(+copy, design, drawing, painting)

Anne did a lovely painting of the lake where we stayed last summer. 

Clean something

The cleaner has done my room when I came back. 

To be acceptable, suitable, or enough

• A: What size wallet do you need? 
• B: A small one will do. 

Idiom, phrase, collocation used with Make

Meaning

Example

Idioms

Make a beeline for something

to move quickly and directly toward something

As soon as the concert started, the fans made a beeline for the front row to get a closer view of the band. 

Make a (big) difference

to improve a situation or condition in an important way

Donating to the charity can make a big difference in the lives of those in need. 

Make a habit of something

to begin to do something regularly, often without thinking about it

Linda decided to make a habit of going for a jog every morning to improve her fitness. 

Make a point of doing something

to always do something or to take particular care to do something

Tom makes a point of expresses gratitude to his colleagues for their hard work. 

Make allowances for something

To make allowances for someone is to think about their characteristics and not judge them too severely

The teacher made allowances for the students who needed extra time to complete the exam. 

Phrasal verbs

Make up to someone

to be too friendly to someone or to praise them in order to get advantages for yourself

After forgetting their anniversary, John decided to make it up to his wife by planning a surprise weekend get away. 

Make out something/ someone

to see, hear, or understand something or someone with difficulty

In the dim light, it was difficult to make out the details of the mysterious figure in the distance. 

to say, usually falsely, that something is true

Steve makes himself out to be a millionaire. 

Make over someone/ something

to improve something or someone by working on or changing various parts

The interior designer was hired to make over the outdated living room into a modern and stylish space. 

Make something of something/ someone

to have an impression or an understanding about something

What do you make of the new boss? (= What is your impression of her?) 

Collocations

Make arrangements

The couple made arrangements for their wedding, including booking the venue and hiring a caterer. 

Make a cake

As a birthday surprise, Noah decided to make a cake from scratch for his best friend.

Make a mess

The children were playing in the living room and managed to make a mess with their toys. 

Make money

With his innovative business idea, Andrew was able to make money and achieve financial success. 

Make a complaint

Unsatisfied with the service, the customer decided to make a complaint to the restaurant manager. 

Meaning

Example

Make + object

Create something, often using a particular substance or material

• Anna makes some coffee in the morning. 
• Did you really make this table? 

Make + object + adjective

Cause somebody to feel

• Music makes me happy. 
• Eating makes me relaxing. 

Make + object + noun 

Create something for someone, often using a particular substance or material

• They made her team captain for the coming year. 
• I can make John a better person. 

Make + indirect object + direct object

• The chef made Annie a special cake. 
• Can I make you a cup of tea or coffee? 

Make + object + prepositional phrase + for

• Can you make a sandwich for Lisa as well? 
• I’ve made an appointment for you at the dentist's. 

Make + object + adjective; noun prepositional phrase + for 

Cause somebody/ something to feel

• Alex made life difficult for me. 
• What would make it a better book for students? 

Make + object + infinitive verb

Force someone to do something

• The boss made me work overtime. 
• Ambition will make you get up off your sofa and go out and work for what you want. 

Do

Make

Part of speech

• Auxiliary verb
• Verb: to perform, to act or take action

• Verb: to create something, often using a particular substance or material
• Noun: a type of product or the name of the company that made it

Usage

Do focuses on the process or action of doing something.

Make focuses on the product or result of an action.

Example

When I was doing the calculations, I made two mistakes. 

I did some work for her last summer. I made a pond in her garden.