Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on the make

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 6.01 in modern English

Syllables: on the -make
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Actively seeking a romantic encounter or relationship.

Informal

prep_phrase

Actively seeking an opportunity for self-advancement; eager to ingratiate oneself to others in order to secure some advantage.

Informal

Example Sentences

"Harry (Matthew Cowles) and Tim (Timothy Meyers) are an inseparable pair of macho punks always on the make for an easy sexual score."
"In a city where everybody was "hustling," everybody, as they phrased it, "on the make," why should anyone take a second glance at Peter Gudge?"
"She said that anyone under the age of thirty living in a resort community was on the make somehow: “pimping, dealing, hooking, detoxing, escaping, scamming, or what have you.”"

Etymology

From make (“companion, spouse, mate”), related to match (“counterpart, partner”).

Usage

Informal

Phrases

on-the-make-ness put the make on

Frequently Paired Words

put the make on

Questions

What does on the make mean?: Actively seeking a romantic encounter or relationship.
Where does on the make come from?: From make (“companion, spouse, mate”), related to match (“counterpart, partner”).

How to pronounce on the make

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