on the make
Idioms-
Seeking personal gain, as in Tom's a young man on the make—he doesn't care whom he offends . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]
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Looking for sexual conquest, as in After several affairs, Peter got the reputation of being a man on the make . [ Slang ; c. 1920]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It can cost 10-25% more to insure an EV than a petrol or diesel car, depending on the make and model.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Mr. Restall’s Columbus was a man on the make, a social climber who used his marriage in 1479 to Felipa Moniz, the daughter of a minor aristocrat, to further his standing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
I confess it was more than a little jarring to see my beloved scatterbrained Mrs. Oliver turned into Fey’s stylish, fast-talking writer on the make.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2023
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 had staked Seattle’s claim as a city on the make.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 30, 2022
Alas, Egyptian mines were tapped out; the Ptolemies were therefore constantly on the make for gold and silver to pay their soldiers.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
