"Do well" is easily substituted.

For example, it would be quite normal and common for someone to ask "How'd you make out?" ("How did you make out?") in order to find out how well or successfully someone has managed to do something.

It is also extremely common to talk about "making out a check" for a certain amount, for example.

If I am having trouble seeing/discerning something, it would not be a bit unusual to say that I am "having trouble making it out."

Here are the various definitions listed at Dictionary.com for "make out":

a.	to write out or complete, as a bill or check.

b.	to establish; prove.

c.	to decipher; discern.

d.	to imply, suggest, or impute: He made me out to be a liar.

e.	to manage; succeed: How are you making out in your new job?

f.	Slang. to engage in kissing and caressing; neck.

g.	Slang. to have sexual intercourse.

h.	Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to turn off or extinguish (esp. a light or fire): Make the light out.

”

So, Alex, my recommendation would be to continue familiarizing yourself with all of the various ways that "make out" can be (and is) used.  And keep in mind that there are often other ways to say the same thing.

(I suppose it might be advisable to leave the Pennsylvania Dutch usage of "make out" to the Pennsylvania Dutch, though.)

MrPernickety

“

1. He's not making out all too well in his business of selling watermelons

2. For all the hardships that've come my way so far, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I usually make out well at work.

”

How did you make out on the exam?

How did you make out with the driving test?

I heard you asked the boss for a raise.  How did you make out?

How did Larry make out at his dental appointment?  Did they find out why that tooth is bothering him so much?

CJ