to make a fist of - Glite Dictionary

Examples

She really tried to make a fist of the job, even though it was beyond her training.
If you don’t study, you’ll never make a fist of your exams.
Despite his lack of experience, he managed to make a fist of running the department.
He always makes a fist of tough situations.
Despite his lack of experience, he managed to make a fist of running the department.
If you don’t study, you’ll never make a fist of your exams.
She really tried to make a fist of the job, even though it was beyond her training.

Synonyms

to try

vsto make a fist of

∞ 1.0

To make an effort to do something difficult

leans more toward achieving some success rather than just exerting effort

to attempt

vsto make a fist of

∞ 1.3

To try to do something that is difficult or new

focuses more on outcomes, often implying some success rather than mere effort

to go for

vsto make a fist of

272 2.5

To try to get something you want by making an effort

emphasizes that effort often results in some successful outcome rather than uncertainty

to try for

vsto make a fist of

76 3.1

Make a strong effort to get something you want

is similar but suggests actual partial or full success more often

to take a shot at

vsto make a fist of

Informal

45 3.7

To try to do something even when success is uncertain

tends to imply an outcome with at least some success rather than mere chance

to push it

vsto make a fist of

Informal

39 5.3

To try very hard to do more than usual

involves trying that often achieves results rather than only pushing limits

to make a go of

vsto make a fist of

11 4.1

To try to make a business or relationship succeed

is about trying with some degree of success rather than aiming only to start

to take a stab at

vsto make a fist of

Informal

10 5.3

To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed

suggests more likely partial success rather than primarily experimental attempts

to put one's shoulder to the wheel

vsto make a fist of

Informal

2 7.5

To start working very hard to reach a goal

is about trying that often results in some success rather than just hard work

to have a stab at

vsto make a fist of

UK

1 5.3

To try to do something when you are not sure you will succeed

is more often used when the attempt actually produces some success

to trying

vsto make a fist of

1.0

To make an effort to do something

implies a greater chance of positive result rather than neutral effort

Antonyms

to give up

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

to fail

898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

How Successful

to master

191 4.1

to succeed

846 2.0

to make a fist of

UK

8.2

to do well

520 1.2

Surface Forms

make a fist of infinitive

made a fist of past

made a fist of past participle

making a fist of present participle

makes a fist of third person singular

Morphology

make + a + fist + of

The phrase uses the literal image of making a 'fist' (a gesture of effort or determination) combined with 'make' to convey attempting or tackling something, so there is a visible metaphorical link to effort. However the specific idiomatic sense "make a fist of [something]" (to have a go or make an attempt, with varying success) is not directly predictable from the parts and would likely require prior exposure for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Make a fist of may come from the simple image of making your hand into a fist to hold on tight when something is hard. So saying someone made a fist of a task means they 'tried hard' and did their best, even if they did not fully succeed.