make it
verb1
To succeed in doing something, for example in reaching a place, going somewhere, attending an event, arriving in time for something, adding to one's schedule or itinerary, or in getting where one wants to be in one's life or career, which sometimes means becoming or wanting to become successful (succeed in a big way) or famous.
- He never made it to Italy despite talking about it all his life.
- I can't make it to the concert; I have to work.
4 more examples
- I'm not just going to make it; I'm going to make it big.
- As long as we have each other, it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
- We're not gonna make it / ’Cause there’s a million better bands1995, “We Are Not Going To Make It”, performed by The Presidents of the United States of America:
- I was scrambling to my feet when I saw the car sliding back toward me, having not quite made it to the crest of the hill.2003, Frank P. Baron, What Fish Don't Want You to Know:
2
To succeed in surviving, in living through something.
- Don’t die, pal. You’re gonna make it little buddy. Come on, man. We’re gonna help you, and you’re gonna make it.1980, Will D. Campbell, Brother to a Dragonfly:
- Arjaan didn't make it. He went down covering our saboteur-took out nearly a dozen kett before he fell.2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: For the Commander:
3
To have sexual intercourse.
- Iris Steensma (Jodie Foster): “Listen, we better make it or Sport’ll get mad. So how do you wanna make it?” Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro): “I don’t wanna make it. Who’s Sport?” Iris Steensma: “Oh, that’s Matthew. I call him Sport. Wanna make it like this? (starts to unbuckle belt)[…] “Don't you want to make it?” Travis Bickle: “No I don’t wanna make it. I wanna help you” […] Iris Steensma: “Listen, we don’t have to make it mister.”1976, Paul Schrader, 01:21:04 from the start, in Martin Scorsese, director, Taxi Driver (film):
- […]a fellow who knew how to make every girl happy, but once he’d made it with her didn’t know where to go from there.1993, The Four Sonyas, translation of original by Vladimír Páral:
4
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see make, it.
- The blisters on my foot made it a problem to walk without a cane.