make a splash

Meaning

To attract a lot of attention, interest, or excitement by doing something very successful or unusual. It is commonly used when a new movie, song, artist, or product suddenly becomes popular and widely talked about.

Examples

• Her debut single really made a splash on the indie music charts last week.

  Her debut single really made a splash on the indie music charts last week.

• The young director hopes to make a splash at the Sundance Film Festival.

  The young director hopes to make a splash at the Sundance Film Festival.

• That new sci-fi series is definitely making a splash with its stunning visual effects.

  That new sci-fi series is definitely making a splash with its stunning visual effects.

• He didn't just want to release an album; he wanted to make a splash in the industry.

  He didn't just want to release an album; he wanted to make a splash in the industry.

• The indie game made a huge splash, selling over a million copies in its first week.

  The indie game made a huge splash, selling over a million copies in its first week.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The new movie made a big splash on the audience.

  ✓ The new movie made a big splash with the audience.

  We use the preposition 'with' (or 'in' for an area/industry) to show who or what was impressed, not 'on'.

• ✗ She wants to do a splash with her new fashion line.

  ✓ She wants to make a splash with her new fashion line.

  'Make a splash' is a fixed collocation. You cannot substitute 'make' with 'do'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The new indie studio hopes to ___ with their upcoming RPG.

  💡 To attract a lot of attention and excitement.

  Show answer

  make a splash

• Her performance in the Broadway show really ___ last year.

  💡 Past tense of 'make'.

  Show answer

  made a splash