make an impression
To have or create a strong impact on someone, whether good or bad (usually specified by an adjective before "impression.") Make sure you brush your hair and wear a clean suit—you want to make a good impression on your first day in the office. It's clear that the defendant's impassioned speech made a strong impression on the jury.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
make an impression
Produce a strong effect on one. This phrase is often qualified with an adjective such as good, bad, strong, or the like. For example, He tried to make a good impression on his girlfriend's parents, or Be careful or you'll make a bad impression on the jury, or You made quite an impression with that speech. [Mid-1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.