make out a plan

[joham]

Does 'make out a plan' sound a good phrase to native speakers? Thank you in advance.

I googled and got 942,000 hits for 'make out a plan' and only 744,000 hits for 'make a plan'. I was astonished at the results: Is 'make out a plan' good English? If so, why can't we find the phrase in any dictionary?

[bhaisahab]

Does 'make out a plan' sound a good phrase to native speakers? Thank you in advance.

I googled and got 942,000 hits for 'make out a plan' and only 744,000 hits for 'make a plan'. I was astonished at the results: Is 'make out a plan' good English? If so, why can't we find the phrase in any dictionary?

I would say "make a plan".

[emsr2d2]

I would also say "make a plan".

[cubezero3]

Is it because that the phrase may sound like "make out ..." to many people?

[bhaisahab]

Is it because that the phrase may sound like "make out ..." to many people?

I doubt it, it's just that "out" is redundant it doesn't add anything.

[Tullia]

Not only that, I think, but "make out" has a variety of meanings: normally in Br Eng we use "make out" as a verb meaning "to just be able to see/understand".

Can you see that oak tree in the distance?
Yes, I can just make it out.

I read the homework assignment but I can't make it out at all: what are we supposed to be doing?

I think I need glasses :( I was driving the other day and realised I could barely make out the words on the road signs anymore.


If someone said something about making out a plan, there could be potential confusion as to whether you were talking about understanding it, or drawing it up.

Actually, that's a nice phrase: to draw up a plan (often: plan of attack)

[cubezero3]

To be honest, I would also use make out in this sense. Then, my mind was directed to something elso when I first read the OP's sentence.

I am a bad man.