I doubt he'll ever make it to managing director.

[Nonverbis]

Upstream Proficiency by Virginia Evans and Jenny Dooley.



Could you tell me whether the sentence 3 is correct or not?

 

[5jj]

It is. Why did you think it might not be?

 

[5jj]

Could you tell me whether the sentence 3 is correct or not?

... the third sentence ...
... the sentence #3 ...

 

[emsr2d2]

It's a shame about the spelling mistake in the instructions!

 

[Nonverbis]

It is. Why did you think it might not be?

I can't find this construction in dictionaries.

 

[Barque]

I'm surprised you can't find it.

"Make it" is a phrasal verb in that context meaning "to achieve something" or "to get to a certain position". I doubt he'll ever become Managing Director.

https://www.wordreference.com/definition/make
Here you go. Look at number 40.

 

[emsr2d2]

You don't even need to leave this site to find the definition. UE has an extensive list of Phrasal Verbs. Here's the link to our entry for "make it".

 

[Nonverbis]

You don't even need to leave this site to find the definition. UE has an extensive list of Phrasal Verbs. Here's the link to our entry for "make it".

First of all, you found some definition for "make it". But we have a case of "make it to smth".

This site gives:
1. Arrive.
2. To get a result.

This is irrelevant to our case.

Oxford gives a much closer meaning:

make verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of make verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com

But it is "about makie as" rather than "make it to".

I would definitely like to have a look at "make it to" somewhere.

 

[Barque]

But we have a case of "make it to smth".

"Make it" is the basic phrase. It can be used in different ways.

This site gives:
1. Arrive.
2. To get a result.

This is irrelevant to our case.

It's relevant. Becoming Managing Director is a result, or an achievement. It's also a figurative "arrival"--he arrived at that situation.

Oxford gives a much closer meaning:

Not really. It just happens that their choice of example is more similar to the phrase you asked about. Dictionaries have to choose their examples because they can't refer to every possible use.

But to make it as an actor means "to become an actor and then become a successful one". To "make it to managing director" just means "become managing director". So perhaps this site's definition is more relevant.

I would definitely like to have a look at "make it to" somewhere.

They're variants of the same basic phrase, "make it". If you keep looking you'll find it in some dictionary. But you already have all the information you need.

 

[jutfrank]

Think of there being a metaphorical journey. The 'to' phrase expresses the destination.

He's on a career path where the position of Managing Director is a desired destination. I doubt he'll get (make it) that far.