make over

See also: makeover and make-over

English

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

make over (third-person singular simple present makes over, present participle making over, simple past and past participle made over)

(idiomatic) To renovate or to convert to a different use, particularly houses, offices, or rooms within them.
We're going to make over the garage into a guest suite.
- 2006, Prevention, volume 58, number 12, page 142:
  Our made-over meat recipes call for the leanest cuts of beef, lamb, and pork […]
(idiomatic) (of a person, particularly a woman) To give a new physical look to, especially with a new hairstyle, cosmetics, or clothes.
Cindy is going to make over Karen tomorrow.
(idiomatic) (of a career, public image, etc.) To improve upon or take in a new direction.
The senator needs to make over his image.
(idiomatic) To transfer ownership (or care) of, especially by means of a legal document.
- 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
  As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.
- 1962 April, D. Bertram, “Trans-Pennine Diversion”, in Modern Railways, page 257:
  Limestone from the quarries at Warcop and Merrygill to Tees-side is now worked on to the former Midland Railway at Appleby and down the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where it is made over to the N.E.R.