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Glite Dictionary
to make a threat

to make a threat

6 4.2
Tell someone you will hurt them to frighten them
  • phrasal verb
  • /meɪk ə θrɛt/
  • Offensive
translation icon : amenazar
  • The only time I would consider calling the authorities is when someone has made a threat of immediate violence and then doesn't respond to immediate help.
  • a student made a threat

Examples

  • If just 10% of students made a threat at school every month, one could very conservatively expect more than 14,600 threats over the course of the school year.

    Academic text (2004)

  • It's a huge mistake to make a threat like that.

  • You heard him make a threat, and that could still mean that he is capable of violence, no matter what I saw at his house.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • If I didn't know better, I'd say you were making a threat.

    Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

  • People just don't seem to understand that making a threat on the POTUS's life is a serious crime!

    Blog text (33)

  • He made a threat he likely can't carry out.

    Blog text (19)

  • If I didn't know better, I'd say you were making a threat.

  • A patient makes a threat; you should always be concerned.

Synonyms

to threaten
vsto make a threat
987 3.3

To tell someone you will hurt them to make them afraid

is about implying harm rather than always stating intention
to intimidate
vsto make a threat
294 4.9

To frighten someone so they do what you want

is about stating or implying harm rather than only causing fear
to menace
vsto make a threat
19 4.6

To threaten people or places with harm

is more about saying or implying future harm to cause fear or force action

Antonyms

to reassure
163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

to offer support
28 2.7

To give help to someone during a difficult time

How Threatening

to threaten
987 3.3
to make a threat
  • Offensive
6 4.2
to menace
19 4.6

Surface Forms

make a threat infinitive
made a threat past
made a threat past participle
making a threat present participle
makes a threat third person singular

Morphology

make + a + threat

The meaning 'to state or imply you will cause harm' is directly derivable from combining 'make' (to produce or cause) with 'threat' (an expressed warning of harm). The 'make + noun' pattern is a transparent, productive construction in English (and parallels exist in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Make a threat uses the simple image of making something with words: to make a threat is to create a warning or promise of harm with what you say. That's why it means 'to say you will hurt or cause trouble to someone'.