not know what to make of (someone or something)

not know what to make of (someone or something)

To not be sure of what one thinks about someone or something; to not have a clear or confident impression or understanding of someone or something. I came into the interview wearing a full clown costume with makeup, and I could tell they didn't know what to make of me at all. We're receiving a message from the alien spacecraft, but I don't know what to make of their language.

See also: know, make, not, of, to, what

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

not know what to make of someone or something

not to understand someone or something; not to be able to interpret something or the actions of someone. We really don't know what to make of his request.

See also: know, make, not, of, to, what

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.