make down
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To set up a place to sleep, usually not a proper bed — like putting blankets on the floor or on a sofa for a guest.
Literal meaning: 'Make' (to prepare) + 'down' (at a lower level, on the floor). The directional sense of making a bed at ground level is fairly transparent.
Meanings
1 C1 informal
To arrange a temporary or makeshift sleeping place, especially on the floor or a sofa, typically for a guest.
"We haven't got a spare room, but I can make you down a bed on the living room floor."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Primarily Scottish and Northern English dialect. In standard British or American English, 'make up a bed' or 'put someone up' would be more commonly used. 'Make down' specifically implies a floor-level or improvised sleeping arrangement. Rarely encountered outside dialect literature or regional conversation.
Commonly used with
floor sofa couch guest spare room blankets
Forms
Base
make down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
makes down
he/she/it
Past simple
made down
yesterday
Past participle
made down
have + pp
-ing form
making down
continuous
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Synonyms
make up a bed put down a bed set up a bed lay out bedding
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