make it

Verb

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

1. To succeed in doing something, for example in reaching a place, going somewhere, attending an event, arriving in time for something, adding to one's schedule or itinerary, or in getting where one wants to be in one's life or career, which sometimes means becoming or wanting to become successful (succeed in a big way) or famous.
   • He never made it to Italy despite talking about it all his life.
   • I can't make it to the concert; I have to work.
2. To succeed in surviving, in living through something.
   • Don’t die, pal. You’re gonna make it little buddy. Come on, man. We’re gonna help you, and you’re gonna make it.1980, Will D. Campbell, Brother to a Dragonfly
   • Arjaan didn't make it. He went down covering our saboteur-took out nearly a dozen kett before he fell.2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: For the Commander
3. To have sexual intercourse.
   • Iris Steensma (Jodie Foster): “Listen, we better make it or Sport’ll get mad. So how do you wanna make it?”
   • Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro): “I don’t wanna make it. Who’s Sport?”
   • Iris Steensma: “Oh, that’s Matthew. I call him Sport. Wanna make it like this? (starts to unbuckle belt)[…] “Don't you want to make it?”
   • Travis Bickle: “No I don’t wanna make it. I wanna help you” […]
   • Iris Steensma: “Listen, we don’t have to make it mister.”1976, Paul Schrader, 01:21:04 from the start, in Martin Scorsese, director, Taxi Driver (film)

   Synonyms:

   do it, get it, approach, cohabit, common, company, copulate, couple, engage in sex, exchange flesh

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see make, it.
   • The blisters on my foot made it a problem to walk without a cane.