make a good [poor] excuse
うまい[へたな]言い訳をする
make a good impression
よい印象を与える
Make a good impression or you will suffer for it.
好印象を与えないと損をする
make a good [bad] job of ...
…をうまくこなす[できない]
make a good [poor] showing
よい[ひどい]結果になる
make a good wad of dough
大金をもうける
make a goose of ...
…をばかにする
make a grab for [at] ...
…にさっと手を伸ばす
make [pull off] a great coup
大当たりをとる,大成功を収める
make a great occasion of the New Year
新年を盛大に祝う