make hay

- 3 dictionary results

hay

[hey]

–noun

1.	grass, clover, alfalfa, etc., cut and dried for use as forage.

2.	grass mowed or intended for mowing.

Slang.

a.	a small sum of money: Twenty dollars an hour for doing very little certainly ain't hay.

b.	money: A thousand dollars for a day's work is a lot of hay!

4.	Slang. marijuana.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to convert (plant material) into hay.

6.	to furnish (horses, cows, etc.) with hay.

–verb (used without object)

7.	to cut grass, clover, or the like, and store for use as forage.

—Idioms

8.	a roll in the hay, Slang. sexual intercourse.

9.	hit the hay, Informal. to go to bed: It got to be past midnight before anyone thought of hitting the hay.

10.	in the hay, in bed; retired, esp. for the night: By ten o'clock he's in the hay.

11.	make hay of, to scatter in disorder; render ineffectual: The destruction of the manuscript made hay of two years of painstaking labor.

12.	make hay while the sun shines, to seize an opportunity when it presents itself: If you want to be a millionaire, you have to make hay while the sun shines. Also, make hay.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE hēg; c. G Heu, ON hey, Goth hawi. See hew

Related forms:

hayey, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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make (māk)

v. made (mād), mak·ing, makes

v. tr.

To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create: made problems for us; making a commotion.
To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct: make a dress; made a stone wall.
To form by assembling individuals or constituents: make a quorum.
To change from one form or function to another: make clay into bricks.
1. To cause to be or become: made her position clear; a decision that made him happy.
2. To cause to assume a specified function or role: made her treasurer; made Austin his home.
3. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.
4. To compel: made him quit.
5. To form in the mind: make an estimate.
6. To compose: make verses.
7. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
8. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
9. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
10. To engage in: make war.
11. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
12. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
13. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
14. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
15. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
16. To reach in time: just made the plane.
17. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
18. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
19. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
20. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
21. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
22. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
23. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
24. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
25. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
26. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
27. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
28. To add up to: Two and two make four.
29. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.
2. To compel: made him quit.
3. To form in the mind: make an estimate.
4. To compose: make verses.
5. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
6. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
7. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
8. To engage in: make war.
9. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
10. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
11. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
12. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
13. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
14. To reach in time: just made the plane.
15. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
16. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
17. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
18. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
19. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
20. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
21. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
22. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
23. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
24. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
25. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
26. To add up to: Two and two make four.
27. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To form in the mind: make an estimate.
2. To compose: make verses.
3. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
4. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
5. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
6. To engage in: make war.
7. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
8. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
9. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
10. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
11. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
12. To reach in time: just made the plane.
13. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
14. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
15. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
16. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
17. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
18. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
19. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
20. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
21. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
22. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
23. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
24. To add up to: Two and two make four.
25. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To prepare; fix: make dinner.
2. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.
3. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
4. To engage in: make war.
5. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
6. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
7. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
8. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
9. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
10. To reach in time: just made the plane.
11. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
12. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
13. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
14. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
15. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
16. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
17. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
18. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
19. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
20. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
21. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
22. To add up to: Two and two make four.
23. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To engage in: make war.
2. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.
3. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
4. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
5. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
6. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
7. To reach in time: just made the plane.
8. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
9. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
10. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
11. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
12. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
13. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
14. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
15. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
16. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
17. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
18. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
19. To add up to: Two and two make four.
20. To amount to: makes no difference.
To achieve, produce, or attain: made peace between the two sides; not making sense; didn't make the quota.
1. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.
2. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.
3. To arrange or agree to: make a date.
4. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
5. To reach in time: just made the plane.
6. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
7. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
8. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
9. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
10. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
11. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
12. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
13. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
14. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
15. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
16. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
17. To add up to: Two and two make four.
18. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.
2. To reach in time: just made the plane.
3. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
4. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
5. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
6. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
7. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
8. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
9. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
10. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
11. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
12. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
13. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
14. To add up to: Two and two make four.
15. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.
2. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.
3. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
4. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
5. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
6. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
7. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
8. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
9. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
10. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
11. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
12. To add up to: Two and two make four.
13. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.
2. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.
3. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.
4. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
5. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
6. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
7. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
8. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
9. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
10. To add up to: Two and two make four.
11. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.
2. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.
3. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
4. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
5. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
6. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
7. To add up to: Two and two make four.
8. To amount to: makes no difference.
To be suited for: Oak makes strong furniture.
To develop into: will make a fine doctor.
1. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.
2. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.
3. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.
4. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
5. To add up to: Two and two make four.
6. To amount to: makes no difference.
1. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.
2. To add up to: Two and two make four.
3. To amount to: makes no difference.
To cover (a distance): made 200 miles before sunset
To constitute the essence or nature of: Clothes make the man.
To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding: You made my day.
To appear to begin (an action): She made to leave.
Slang To persuade to have sexual intercourse.

v. intr.

To act or behave in a specified manner: make merry; make free.
To begin or appear to begin an action: made as if to shake my hand.
To cause something to be as specified: make ready; make sure.
To proceed in a certain direction: made for home; made after the thief.
Slang To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like: made like a ballerina.
To undergo fabrication or manufacture: This wool makes up into a warm shawl.
To rise or accumulate: The tide is making.

The act or process of making; manufacturing.
The style or manner in which a thing is made: disliked the make of my coat.
The amount produced, especially the output of a factory.
A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark: a famous make of shirt.
The physical or moral nature of a person; character or disposition: found out what make of man he was.
Slang Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records: Did you get a make on the thief?
To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.
To help promote; further: makes for better communication.
To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.
To understand: could not make out what she said.
To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.
To fill in (a form, for example).
Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.
Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.
To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.
Slang
1. To neck; pet.
2. To have sexual intercourse.
3. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.
4. To apply cosmetics.
5. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
6. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
To redo; renovate.
To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.
To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.
To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.
1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.
2. To apply cosmetics.
3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.
1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.
To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.
To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.
To set in order: make up a room.
Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.
To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.
To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
make for

To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.
To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

make offTo depart in haste; run away.
make out

To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.
To understand: could not make out what she said.
To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.
To fill in (a form, for example).
Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.
Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.
To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.
Slang
1. To neck; pet.
2. To have sexual intercourse.

make over

To redo; renovate.
To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

make up

To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.
To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.
1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.
2. To apply cosmetics.
3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.
1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.
2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.
To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.
To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.
To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.
To set in order: make up a room.
Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

make with Slang

To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.
To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Idiom(s):
make a clean breast ofTo confess fully.

Idiom(s):
make a faceTo distort the features of the face; grimace.

Idiom(s):
make a go ofTo achieve success in: have made a go of the business.

Idiom(s):
make away with

To carry off; steal.
To use up or consume.
To kill or destroy.

Idiom(s):
make believeTo pretend.

Idiom(s):
make boldTo venture: I will not make so bold as to criticize such a scholar.

Idiom(s):
make bookTo accept bets on a race, game, or contest.

Idiom(s):
make doTo manage to get along with the means available: had to make do on less income.

Idiom(s):
make ends meetTo manage so that one's means are sufficient for one's needs.

Idiom(s):
make eyesTo ogle.

Idiom(s):
make fun ofTo mock; ridicule.

Idiom(s):
make good

To carry out successfully: made good his escape.
To fulfill: made good her promise.
To make compensation for; make up for: made good the loss.
To succeed: made good as a writer.

Idiom(s):
make hayTo turn to one's advantage: The candidate's opponents made hay of the scandal.

Idiom(s):
make heads or tails ofTo understand: I couldn't make heads or tails of the report.

Idiom(s):
make historyTo do something memorable or spectacular enough to influence the course of history: The first space flight made history.

Idiom(s):
make it

Informal To achieve a goal; be successful. finally made it as an actor.
Slang To have sexual intercourse.

Idiom(s):
make light ofTo treat as unimportant: He made light of his illness.

Idiom(s):
make love

To engage in amorous caressing.
To engage in sexual intercourse.

Idiom(s):
make much ofTo treat as of great importance.

Idiom(s):
make no bones aboutTo be forthright and candid about; acknowledge freely: They make no bones about their dislike for each other.

Idiom(s):
make off withTo snatch or steal: made off with the profits.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) dayTo give one great pleasure.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) peace withTo bring oneself to accept; reconcile oneself to.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) way

To go forward; advance.
To succeed, especially in making a living.

Idiom(s):
make sail

To begin a voyage.
To set sail.

Idiom(s):
make sense

To be coherent or intelligible: an explanation that made sense.
To be practical or advisable: It makes sense to go now.

Idiom(s):
make something ofTo start a fight or quarrel over.

Idiom(s):
make the gradeTo measure up to a given standard.

Idiom(s):
make the most ofTo use to the greatest advantage.

Idiom(s):
make the scene Slang

To put in an appearance: made the scene at the party.
To participate in a specified activity: made the drug scene.

Idiom(s):
make time

To travel speedily.
To travel at a specified rate: We made good time getting to town.
Slang To make progress toward attracting someone: tried to make time with the new neighbor.

Idiom(s):
make tracks Slang To move or leave in a hurry.

Idiom(s):
make up (one's) mindTo decide between alternatives; come to a definite decision or opinion.

Idiom(s):
make waves Slang To cause a disturbance or controversy.

Idiom(s):
make way

To give room for passage; move aside.
To make progress.

Idiom(s):
on the make Slang

Aggressively striving for financial or social improvement: a young executive on the make.
Eagerly seeking a sexual partner.

[Middle English maken, from Old English macian; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
mak'a·ble, make'a·ble adj.

Word Origin & History

hay

"grass mown," O.E. heg (Anglian), hieg, hig (W.Saxon) "grass cut or mown for fodder," from P.Gmc. *khaujan (cf. O.N. hey, O.Fris. ha, M.Du. hoy, Ger. Heu, Goth. hawi "hay"), lit. "that which is cut," or "that which can be mowed," from PIE *kau- "to hew, strike" (cf. O.E. heawan "to cut"). Hay-fever is from 1829; earlier it was called summer catarrh. Hayseed is from 1577 in the literal sense of "grass seed shaken out of hay;" in U.S. slang sense of "comical rustic" it dates from 1851. Haymaker in the sense of "very strong blow with the fist" is from 1912, probably in imitation of the wide swinging stroke of a scythe. Slang phrase hit the hay (pre-1880) was originally "to sleep in a barn;" hay in the general fig. sense of "bedding" (e.g. roll in the hay) is from 1903.

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