made it look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made it look" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing how someone or something has created a particular appearance or impression. Example: "She really made it look easy when she completed the complex dance routine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Arts

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Wilson made it look easy.

The New Yorker

He made it look easy.

The New York Times

She made it look easy.

The New York Times - Food

Kate Weare's "Idyll" made it look easy.

The New York Times - Arts

"Shoot, he just made it look easy".

The New York Times

They made it look easy, too.

The New York Times - Sports

He made it look anything but.

Independent

We made it look easy.

The New York Times - Sports

Jarmusch made it look easy.

The Guardian - Film

Raúl made it look simple.

The Guardian - Sport

They made it look real.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made it look" to emphasize the deceptive simplicity of a complex task. For example, "The surgeon "made it look" easy, but the operation was incredibly intricate."

Common error

Avoid using "made it look" when you intend to express genuine ease. The phrase often implies a hidden complexity or effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made it look" primarily functions as a verb phrase within a sentence. It indicates that someone or something created a specific impression or appearance. Ludwig indicates that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

15%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Film

5%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made it look" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase that effectively conveys the appearance of something, often implying a contrast between appearance and reality. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct and it appears very often in news media, sports and arts publications, indicating its general applicability. When writing, it's best to use the phrase when aiming to emphasize the deceptively simple appearance of a complex task or performance. Consider alternatives like "gave the impression" or "created the illusion" when a more formal tone is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gave the impression

Highlights the perceived appearance, but doesn't necessarily imply deception.

created the illusion

Focuses on the deceptive appearance, emphasizing that it wasn't genuine.

portrayed it as

Highlights the depiction or representation of something.

presented it as

Emphasizes the act of showing or displaying something in a particular way.

fashioned the semblance

Implies a crafted or carefully constructed appearance.

faked the appearance

Strongly suggests that the appearance was deliberately misleading.

gave a show of

Indicates that the display was primarily for show, not genuine.

rendered the effect

Focuses on achieving a specific visual or sensory result.

contrived the image

Implies a calculated and artificial creation of a certain look.

engineered the perception

Highlights the deliberate manipulation of how something is perceived.

FAQs

How can I use "made it look" in a sentence?

Use "made it look" to describe how someone or something created a particular impression, typically implying that something appeared easier or more attractive than it actually was. For example, "She "made it look" effortless during the performance, but she had been practicing for months."

What's a more formal alternative to "made it look"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "gave the impression" or "created the illusion", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "made it look easy" and "was easy"?

"Made it look easy" implies that the task might have been difficult, but the person performing it disguised the effort. "Was easy" suggests the task genuinely required little effort.

Is "made it look like" grammatically correct?

Yes, "made it look like" is grammatically correct. It's similar to "made it look", but it specifically emphasizes the resemblance to something else. For example, "They "made it look" like an accident."