make like

English

Alternative forms

• make as if

Etymology

Originally a US regionalism; compare earlier make as if.

Verb

make like (third-person singular simple present makes like, present participle making like, simple past and past participle made like)

1. (colloquial, chiefly US, with clause) To behave as though.

   Synonym: feint

   • 2004 January 3, Hannah Pool, “The new black”, in The Guardian:

     Make like we're getting married and repeat after me, "2004 is the year I will moisturise daily".

2. (colloquial, chiefly US, with a noun) To behave in the manner of.
   • 1947 February 10, “The Great Salesman”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC:

     In his office is an eight-foot bull whip; Ed likes to snap it around and make like a slave-driver.

Derived terms

• make like a banana and split
• make like a tree and leave
• make like a baby and head out

Translations

1. (with clause) To behave as though. — see also pretend

• Spanish: hacer como que, hacer como si

2. (with a noun) To behave in the manner of. — see also pretend

• Spanish: hacer de