make to impress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make to impress" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where someone is trying to create something with the intention of impressing others, but it is not a common expression. Example: "She always tries to make to impress at every event she attends, ensuring her outfit stands out."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Last week, you might have read in this space about the extravagant arrangements that businesses make to impress and entertain favored clients and executives on Super Bowl weekend.

The New York Times

Flamboyant colors can make you look like a clown, Never wear make to impress a boy, but only for your enjoyment.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But this pompousness is easily forgotten after the first bite: this is perfectly, painfully crafted food made to impress.

The Guardian - Travel

Jill's classmate Muley Wills, brilliant and resourceful, spends his time working on animated movies made to impress Jill, with whom he's in love.

The New York Times - Books

The new movie "Annihilation" feels like a vanity project in a very specific way: until a few strikingly inspired moments near the end, it plays like a film made for no personal need, no sense of inquiry or effort to understand situations, characters, or the universe — rather, it appears made to impress.

The New Yorker

They're made to impress, to be photographed by tourists, to stun you with all the space inside, all those shiny floors and dizzying atriums.

Vice

All the guy characters look like action figures you would have killed to have owned when you were little, and all the girl characters/strippers look like drawings of sexy ladies you would have made to impress your friends and convince your enemies that you're not gay.

Vice

Second, old friends and your family may never use the nick name, so don't make one to impress them.

WikiHow

A boy who is willing to make himself look nice for you is probably a better potential boyfriend than one who seems unwilling to make effort to impress you.

WikiHow

"Our greatness comes from tradition, knowledge of art, a desire to make beauty, to impress people all over the world, to show that we love sport," Moskvina said.

The New York Times - Sports

"If only I hadn't started dealing drugs to make money to impress the 17-year-old girl who I fraudulently seduced during a prison sentence for violently assaulting a co-worker of my ex-girlfriend through a bungled heist, none of this would have ever happened," he says correctly.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the act of attempting to impress, consider using stronger verbs like "strive", "endeavor", or "aim" to enhance the impact of your writing. These verbs add a layer of intentionality and effort that "make" may lack.

Common error

While understandable, "make to impress" isn't a standard idiomatic expression. Overusing it can make your writing sound awkward. Opt for more common alternatives like "designed to impress" or "intended to impress" to improve clarity and flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make to impress" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It describes the reason or intent behind an action, indicating that something is done with the goal of creating a favorable impression. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as not standard in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make to impress" describes the intention to create a favorable impression. While understandable, Ludwig AI recognizes it as a non-standard expression, suggesting more polished alternatives like "designed to impress", "intended to impress", or "aim to impress". Usage analysis reveals its presence mainly in News & Media and Wiki contexts, indicating a generally informal register. For impactful writing, prioritize stronger verbs to convey the effort involved. Overall, while the meaning is clear, opting for more conventional phrasing elevates the clarity and sophistication of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try to impress

A more general way of saying that someone is attempting to create a good impression.

strive to impress

Emphasizes the effort made with the goal to create a strong, positive impression.

design to impress

Highlights that something was specifically created or planned to be impressive.

endeavor to impress

Implies a serious or determined attempt to gain approval or admiration.

aim to impress

Focuses on the intention or goal of creating a favorable impact.

intend to impress

Emphasizes the purpose or plan to create a specific effect.

seek to impress

Highlights the active pursuit of opportunities to gain approval.

create an impression

Focuses on the act of forming an image in someone else's mind.

act to impress

Focuses on behavior specifically intended to create a favorable impression.

put on a show

Suggests a performance intended to impress or entertain.

FAQs

What does "make to impress" mean?

The phrase "make to impress" means to create something with the primary intention of impressing others. However, it is not a standard English expression and might be better phrased as "designed to impress" or "intended to impress".

What are some alternatives to "make to impress"?

Alternatives include "designed to impress", "intended to impress", or "aim to impress", which are more common and stylistically polished.

Is "make to impress" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "make to impress" isn't considered standard English. It doesn't violate any strict grammatical rules, but it's less idiomatic than alternatives such as "designed to impress".

How can I improve my sentence using "make to impress"?

Consider replacing "make to impress" with stronger, more common phrases like "strive to impress" or "endeavor to impress". This will refine your writing and make it sound more natural.