Meaning of "Make up"

[Salman]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #41 "Good Bye", question 8

Well, I won't ......... up any more excuses. I wasn't here yesterday because I went to a football match.

(a) make
(b) move
(c) do
(d) look

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #41 "Good Bye", answer 8

Well, I won't make up any more excuses. I wasn't here yesterday because I went to a football match.

Correct answer: (a) make
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why?

Salman

[Conchita]

'Make up' here has the sense of 'to invent'. Another similar expression is 'to think up an excuse'. We make up excuses when we don't want to say the reason for doing or not doing something.

[ron1970]

Hi, Salman:

In addition to what Conchita said, "make up" has other meanings. In the on-line test, it means to invent or create. It can also mean the following (depending on the context, so always be on the lookout for it):

- to compensate for a loss (ever heard of 'make-up classes,' or 'make up for lost time'?)
- to reconcile after a conflict ('Bill and Jill made up after having a fight the other day')
- to arrange or fix ('They made up the bed before having breakfast')

If ever you run into the expression, "make up your mind," it means to decide on something. HTH.
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