Make it

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Jobb

#96060 Wed, 04 May 05 12:11 PM

What does "it" in "make it" below refer to?

Context:

What Are the Odds? A Trainer With 5 Shots to Win the Derby
By JOE DRAPE
If all five of Nick Zito's colts make it to the starting gate, it will be only the second time in the history of the Kentucky Derby that a trainer has put so many runners in the field.

Jobb

Joined on Sun, Jul 11 2004

Regular Member (812)

temico

#96071 Wed, 04 May 05 01:20 PM

"Make it" is an idiom and should not be split into two separate words. "Make it" in your sentence means "manage to reach sucessfully" e.g.

"If all five of Nick Zito's colts MANAGE TO REACH SUCCESSFULLY to the starting gate, it will be only the second time in the history of the Kentucky Derby that a trainer has put so many runners in the field. "

Another example:

"If I MAKE IT to university, my father would be very happy."

temico

Joined on Thu, Apr 21 2005

Full Member (274)

Idioms, Universities

Jobb

#96108 Wed, 04 May 05 03:12 PM

Why not used "in" instead of "to" in "I MAKE IT to university"? Could I change "to" with "in" there?

Jobb

Universities

pieanne

#96110 Wed, 04 May 05 03:26 PM

"Make it TO university" means you manage to get to the university.
"Make it at/in university" means you're going to pass all your university exams with success. I'd prefer at/in followed by "the", but wait for other opinions.

pieanne

Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005

South of France ...But I'm Belgian!

Veteran Member (7,512)

I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

Universities

Jobb

#96131 Wed, 04 May 05 05:32 PM

Thanks.

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Jobb

temico

#96136 Wed, 04 May 05 06:11 PM

To Jobb,

"Make it to university" means "manage to get to university" or "get accepted by a university". Whether a person makes it IN the unversity after he gets in there is a different story!

temico

Universities

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