to make it a point

21 4.3

Be sure to do something regularly

phrasal verb

: procurar

My father used to make it a point of honor to ride the subway.

Like they, they make it a point to go and practice confession.

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Examples

I'll make it a point to check that out.

The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987)
During the CI, we made it a point to try to visit every class.

Academic text (2014)
So I make it a point to be where my feet are and to not have my phone in my hand.
I just made it a point to to reach out to him and, and speak to him about a few things about this.

Danny Jones
Generally I make it a point not to talk too much.

Hearts of the West (1975)
Let's make it a point to do it again real soon.

Deathrow Gameshow (1987)
I have never forgotten those words and have made it a point to vote in every election.

Blog text (21)
And if I get exceptional service, I make it a point to tell the manager.

Blog text (9)
That's why I make it a point to never go to bed hungry.

Marmaduke (2010)
I make it a point to exercise every morning to stay healthy.

Synonyms

to make a point

vsto make it a point

91 3.5

Try to do something on purpose because it is important

emphasizes regular habitual effort for principle rather than special attention

to make a point of

vsto make it a point

40 3.5

Always do something because you think it is important

focuses on steady deliberate effort as a principle or habit

to go out of one's way

vsto make it a point

Informal

1 3.5

Make a special effort to do something, often to help someone

is about customary deliberate effort as a rule, not occasional extra effort

Antonyms

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to neglect

189 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Deliberate

to ensure

787 2.8

to insist

∞ 2.8

to make it a point

21 4.3

to strive

192 3.7

try

Specialized

401 1.0

Surface Forms

make it a point infinitive

making it a point present participle

makes it a point third person singular

made it a point past

made it a point past participle

Morphology

make + it + a + point

The literal parts — 'make' (to do/perform) and 'point' (aim/importance) — give a clear cue that the phrase involves treating something as an aim or priority, so a learner could partly infer that it means to do something deliberately. However, the dummy pronoun 'it' and the conventionalized construction 'make it a point to…' encode a specific habitual/intentional sense that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Make it a point gives a clear image: imagine sticking a pin or drawing a dot, a clear point, next to a task to mark it as important so you will make sure to do it. That's why it means 'to make a deliberate effort to do something'.