make nothing of

make nothing of (third-person singular simple present makes nothing of, present participle making nothing of, simple past and past participle made nothing of)

1. To do (something) with ease
   • 1907, Edgar Jepson, The Four Philanthropists:

     His patent leather boots were tight and ill-suited to the rough going, nor were his black trousers in keeping with his amusement. He looked, indeed, a curious hybrid, a sportsman from his crown to the bottom of his jacket, and a man of the world about the legs. Moreover, his wind was not good, and we were without compassion; we drove him along, and brought him home foot-sore and weary. Angel, on the other hand, enjoyed herself exceedingly; she made nothing of the rough going, and came back as fresh, or rather fresher, than she started.

2. To consider as trifling or unimportant.
   • 1691, John Ray, Wisdom of God manifested in the Works of His Creation:

     We are industrious to preserve our bodies from slavery, but we make nothing of suffering our souls to be slaves to our lusts.

   • 1898, William Morris, The Sundering Flood:

     Osberne laughed and said: Here he stands beside me; come and take him! And the foe were some three score, all a-horseback. So they fell on without more words; but they made nothing of it, and the Wethermellers kept them aloof with spear and bill. Albeit Osberne did not draw his sword, nor did the Lord of Longshaw.

3. To fail to understand.

   I made nothing of what he said.

• “nothing”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.