make a move

Meaning

To take decisive action, especially to initiate a romantic or sexual relationship. It often refers to kissing someone, expressing feelings, or asking them out after a period of flirting or hesitation.

Examples

• I've been flirting with him for weeks, but he still hasn't made a move.

  I've been flirting with him for weeks, but he still hasn't made a move.

• Are you going to make a move, or are you just going to stare at her all night?

  Are you going to make a move, or are you just going to stare at her all night?

• She decided to make a move and invited him over for dinner.

  She decided to make a move and invited him over for dinner.

• I wanted to make a move, but I was too nervous about getting rejected.

  I wanted to make a move, but I was too nervous about getting rejected.

• If you don't make a move soon, someone else might ask him out.

  If you don't make a move soon, someone else might ask him out.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He did a move on her last night.

  ✓ He made a move on her last night.

  'Make' is the correct collocated verb here. Using 'do' sounds unnatural and is grammatically incorrect for this idiom.

• ✗ I want to make move.

  ✓ I want to make a move.

  The idiom requires the indefinite article 'a'. You cannot omit it when using this expression.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He's clearly interested in you. Why don't you ___?

  💡 Take the first step romantically.

  Show answer

  make a move

• I was waiting for him to ___ on me, but he just said goodbye and left.

  💡 Take action to show romantic interest.

  Show answer

  make a move