make a noise

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a noise" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to suggest making some kind of sound or to express that something is making a sound. For example: "The mooing cow made a noise that echoed in the valley."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Make a noise!

The New York Times

Amateurs arise — make a noise.

The New York Times

"Now they don't make a noise".

The Guardian - Sport

If enough people make a noise, change can happen.

The Guardian

"Make a noise at it, Mary," I said.

The Guardian - Books

"If you make a noise, Madam," he said, "I'll scream".

The New Yorker

"If you make a noise, Madam, I'll scream".

The New Yorker

But this time my crying didn't make a noise.

The New Yorker

They have started to make a noise and get heard.

The Guardian

Likely to make a noise come Oscar time.

The Guardian - Film

If you make a noise the beastie runs away.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a noise" when you want to suggest an action of protest or drawing attention to an issue. For example, "If enough people make a noise, change can happen."

Common error

Be careful not to use "make a noise" when you simply mean to produce a general sound. Noise often implies something loud, disruptive, or unwanted. Use "make a sound" for neutral or pleasant sounds.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a noise" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It denotes the action of producing a sound, often with the intention of attracting attention, protesting, or causing a disturbance. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a noise" is a common and acceptable phrase used to describe the act of producing sound, often with connotations of protest or attracting attention. Grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase finds frequent use in news and media, but also occurs in formal and business contexts. When using the phrase, writers should consider the potential implications of disruption and choose it carefully to avoid misrepresenting the intention of generating a sound. The phrase is quite versatile, and is often used figuratively to indicate that a statement or action has attracted significant interest or has had a notable impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a sound

More generic; refers to producing any auditory event, while "make a noise" often implies a louder or more disruptive sound.

cause a racket

Specifically refers to creating a loud and unpleasant noise.

create a disturbance

Implies disrupting peace or order, going beyond simply making sound.

kick up a fuss

Implies making a complaint or protest, usually about something minor.

raise your voice

Focuses on vocal projection, particularly to express disagreement or make a point.

cause an uproar

Involves generating widespread public outrage or protest.

be heard

Focuses on having one's opinion listened to and considered.

speak out

Refers to expressing opinions or protesting, not necessarily involving loud sound.

generate attention

Implies attracting notice, which could be through sound or other means.

express oneself

A broad term for conveying thoughts or feelings, not necessarily through sound.

FAQs

How can I use "make a noise" in a sentence?

You can use "make a noise" to describe the action of producing a sound, often implying a disruptive or attention-grabbing sound. For example, "The crowd started to make a noise in protest" or "If you make a noise, the beastie runs away".

What's a less disruptive alternative to "make a noise"?

If you want to describe producing a sound without implying disruption, you could use alternatives such as "make a sound" or "utter a sound".

When is it appropriate to use "make a noise"?

It's appropriate to use "make a noise" when you want to convey the idea of creating a loud, potentially disruptive sound, or when encouraging someone to speak out or protest. Using it can also describe an animal creating a non-verbal sound.

What is the difference between "make a noise" and "make a peep"?

"Make a noise" generally implies creating a noticeable sound, while "make a peep" suggests making even a small sound, often when silence is expected or demanded. The phrase "make a noise" often implies action, initiative or loud sounds, rather than a slight sound.