make over

present singular third person makes over · participle present making over · participle past made over · past made over

1. idiomaticTo 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.

   1 more example

   Our made-over meat recipes call for the leanest cuts of beef, lamb, and pork […]

   2006, Prevention, volume 58, number 12, page 142

2. 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.

3. idiomatic(of a career, public image, etc.) To improve upon or take in a new direction.

   The senator needs to make over his image.

4. idiomaticTo transfer ownership (or care) of, especially by means of a legal document.

   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.

   1962 April, D. Bertram, “Trans-Pennine Diversion”, in Modern Railways, page 257

   1 more example

   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.

   1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC

5. datedslangAfrican-American VernacularTo praise (someone) excessively.