make noise
To scold, condemn, or criticize very harshly.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The boss will make noise if you arrive late again.”
“The neighbors started to make noise when we played loud music after midnight.”
“The public began to make noise regarding the senator's recent controversial policy decisions.”
Attested as a semantic loan from the Tamil சத்தம் போடு (cattam pōṭu), a construction translating literally to the production of sound. The expression entered the English lexicon through linguistic contact with the Tamil language.
- 01
absence makes the heart grow fonder
One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.
- 02
box of toys
[Cockney slang]noise
- 03
cannot make it
Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.
- 04
doctors make the worst patients
It is difficult to advise people on subjects that they are experts on.
- 05
enough to make a cat laugh
Very outlandish or outrageous.
- 06
enough to make the angels weep
Something so distressing that it causes one to lose hope and faith.
- 07
fine feathers make fine birds
Something that appears beautiful or good is by definition beautiful or good.
- 08
food noise
A mental preoccupation with food that is differentiable from hunger and from cravings but tends to urge people to overeat.
Last updated August 10, 2026