feel (redirected from make felt)

be/feel honour-bound to do something (British & Australian, American & Australian)

to feel that you must do something because it is morally right, even if you do not want to do it. I'd rather go to Andrew's party but I feel honour-bound to go to Caroline's because she asked me first.

be/feel light-headed

to feel weak and as if you might fall over. I feel a bit light-headed. I shouldn't have drunk that second glass of wine.

be/feel under the weather

to feel ill. I'm feeling a little under the weather - I think I may have caught a cold.

See also: weather

cop a feel (American, very informal)

to touch someone's body without their permission in order to get sexual excitement. He saw she was drunk and tried to cop a feel.

See also: cop

feel free

something that you say in order to tell someone that they are allowed to do something. The restaurant doesn't sell alcohol, so feel free to bring your own beer and wine. (often + to do something) If you want to use my computer for your report, feel free.

See also: free

feel hard done-by

if you feel hard done-by, you feel you have been treated unfairly. I'm feeling hard done-by because I've been looking after the kids all week while Steve's been out every night.

See also: hard

feel sick to your stomach (American & Australian)

if something makes you feel sick to your stomach, it is so unpleasant that it makes you feel ill. Looking at those pieces of raw meat I felt sick to my stomach.

See also: sick, stomach

feel the pinch

to have problems with money because you are earning less than before. When my father lost his job and we had to live on my mother's earnings, we really started to feel the pinch.

See also: pinch

feel/go hot and cold (all over) (British & Australian, informal)

to feel that your body is hot and cold at the same time, because you have had a shock. When I suddenly saw him again in the street after all these years, I went hot and cold all over.

See also: cold, hot

I (can) feel it in my bones.

something that you say when you are certain something is true or will happen, although you have no proof. Something terrible is going to happen. I feel it in my bones.

See also: bone

look/feel (like) a million dollars (British, American & Australian, American)

to look or feel extremely attractive. You look like a million dollars in that dress!

See also: dollar, look, million

make someone feel small

to say something which makes someone feel not important or stupid. As a manager you have to be able to criticize people but you don't want to make them feel small.

See also: small

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cop a feel

to touch someone's body without their permission. He tried to cop a feel and she threw him out the door.

Etymology: based on the slang meaning of cop (= to steal or take something)

See also: cop

a feel for something

an understanding or ability in a particular subject or activity. I studied piano for a year, but I never really got a feel for it. She has a real feel for language, so her books are a pleasure to read.

Usage notes: usually said about a natural skill that you cannot learn and often used with get or have, as in the examples

feel for someone

to experience sympathy for someone. I know she's unhappy, and I feel for her.

feel free (to do something)

to know that you have permission to do something. Please feel free to pour yourself some more coffee.

See also: free

feel something in your bones

to know something is true, although it cannot be proved. I knew something terrible was going to happen — I could feel it in my bones.

See also: bone

feel (more) like yourself

to feel as healthy or happy as you usually are. After the accident, it took a year for me to feel like myself again.

Usage notes: often not feel like yourself to feel ill or upset: When she woke up in the morning, she didn't feel like herself.

See also: like

feel like something

1. to seem likely to do something. It feels like rain.

2. to have a desire to do or to have something. I feel like Chinese food. Carol doesn't feel like a movie tonight.

See also: like

feel your oats

to have great confidence in your importance or ability. Workers are feeling their oats and demanding higher wages.

See also: oat

feel someone out

to try to find out someone's opinions or thoughts without being obvious. Why don't you feel them out to see if they'll invite me too? I need time to feel out the boss before asking for more money.

feel the pinch

to experience the effect of having less money. Consumers have felt the pinch of higher gasoline prices.

See also: pinch

feel someone up

to touch someone in a sexual way, usually with their clothing on. You didn't try to feel her up, did you?

Usage notes: usually said of a man touching a woman

feel your way

to do something slowly and carefully. I've only been at the job two months, so I'm still feeling my way.

Etymology: from the literal meaning of feel your way (= to move forward in a dark area by touching things with your hands)

See also: way

get the feel of something

to become familiar with something. This software is a little complicated to use, but you'll soon get the feel of it.