ENGLISH
REFERENCE

make light of

idiom
Meaning

To regard without due seriousness; to joke about.


Origin

disputed origin

From Make light work of.

Examples
SIMPLE

It is rude to make light of someone else's problems.

CONTEXTUAL

He tried to make light of the accident, but everyone else was clearly worried about the damage.

COMPLEX

Although the situation was dire, the politician attempted to make light of the crisis to calm the nervous public.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    absence makes the heart grow fonder

    One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

  2. 02

    amber light

    Hesitance to proceed; limited approval or permission to proceed.

  3. 03

    bright lights

    The glamour and glitz of a place, especially a big city.

  4. 04

    bring to light

    To expose, disclose or reveal something that was hidden or unknown.

  5. 05

    cannot make it

    Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.

  6. 06

    come to light

    To become known; to be revealed.

  7. 07

    doctors make the worst patients

    It is difficult to advise people on subjects that they are experts on.

  8. 08

    enough to make a cat laugh

    Very outlandish or outrageous.

Last updated April 17, 2026