to make a splash
20
3.9
- idiom
- With his breakthrough performance, the actor was able to make a splash in Hollywood.
- want to make a splash
- trying to make a splash
- really made a splash
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Watch on YouTubeAt the same time I was coming off a shooting with Issa Rae and we had did rap shit and I was like, I made a splash on that set.
- At the same time I was coming off a shooting with Issa Rae and we had did rap shit and I was like, I made a splash on that set.
Examples
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In 2008, GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin's family made a splash on the campaign trail.
Blog text (19) -
Zacanelli has also looked to make a splash in the competitive eating world, bringing on a world champion.
Blog text (1) -
Well, I was hoping to make a splash here.
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I asked you to make a splash and you did.
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And the chance to make a splash... to make the news in America.
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You certainly made a splash.
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Then we make a splash on the social scene.
Fiction book (1994) -
The world's biggest software company looks to make a splash with Windows hardware.
Blog text (2) -
There's always the pressure for teams to "make a splash" at the deadline.
Blog text (3) -
Psy is only the latest entertainer to make a splash in the Korean Wave.
Blog text (3)
Synonyms
79
3.4
To get attention by appearing in news reports
70
3.2
To get a lot of attention in the news
31
3.4
Easy to notice because it looks different or bright
22
4.4
To quickly become very popular and liked by many people
21
4.9
To get attention or cause trouble by changing the usual way things are done
19
3.4
To become very popular quickly, often online
19
4.0
Make people feel excited or upset and attract attention
15
3.7
To get the most attention or praise at an event
12
3.7
To become very popular quickly, especially online
10
6.1
Become more noticed or important in a situation
8
7.1
To have a big success that many people notice
8
4.5
To become very successful and famous in your work
4
3.9
To be very noticeable and attract attention
3
5.1
Become the main focus of people's attention after doing something important
1
6.8
Make someone suddenly very famous
1
5.6
To cause a lot of public interest and excitement
1
8.2
Become very popular or successful very quickly
Antonyms
How Noticeable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'make' (cause) combined with 'splash' (a conspicuous, attention-getting event) yields an interpretable idea of 'causing a noticeable effect', so part of the MWE’s meaning is derivable from its parts. However, the use of 'splash' in this figurative, publicity-related sense is metaphorical and may not be immediately obvious to a B1 learner who only knows the literal water-related sense, so the expression is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase make a splash comes from the picture of someone jumping into water and causing a big, noisy splash that draws everyone's eyes. That's why it now means 'to attract a lot of attention'.