1

A little mouse got a rug from a woman. He was so pleased he sang this song.

"Oh me, oh my!

We'll soon be as snug

As a bug in a rug

What do you think of that!

Come and see me any time

I'll make you up another rhyme

But please don't bring the cat."

This is a short story from "Little Old Mrs Pepperpot".

I couldn't understand this sentence "I'll make you up another rhyme". Does it mean "I will make up another rhyme for you?

|improve this question
  • 4
    I think you're correct about "I'll make up another rhyme for you". Do remember, in figurative speech (in this example, poetry) word order can be changed for effect. In this case, the author's probably changed it around so that "rhyme" rhymes with "time". – James Wirth Jun 6 '16 at 16:45
  • @JamesWirth Could you write an answer? – user3169 Jun 6 '16 at 17:49
  • 2
    As with other ditransitive phrasal verbs, if make up has an indirect object (you, in this case), this can appear between the two words. So I'll make up a sandwich for you, I'll cut off a slice for you can be rephrased as I'll make you up a sandwich, I'll cut you off a slice. – FumbleFingers Reinstate Monica Jun 6 '16 at 17:59
  • 1
    @FumbleFingers "Make up a sandwich" ? That must be a uniquely BrE expression, because I have never heard it used that way in AmE. – Cascabel Jun 6 '16 at 18:54
  • 1
    @FumbleFingers Actually, it's only make + object with both in AmE. We teach both as collocations with only "make" in EFL. make a bed, make a sandwich, make a bet, etc. PS: "make up a bed" and "make a bed" have different meanings. – Cascabel Jun 6 '16 at 21:08
1

In your passage

I'll make you up another rhyme

does mean

I will make up another rhyme for you

The idiom is

verb + someone + up

where the action (verb+up) is being done for/to someone

I'll fix you up a sandwich.
I'll make a sandwich for you

They'll write her up in the paper.
They'll write a story about her in the paper

We'll cook him up some dinner.
We'll cook something for dinner for him

Let's rustle ourselves up some grub.
Let's get some food (in cowboy speak)

|improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.