make or do presentation

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do/make a presentation or speech

• Thread starter SwissJeremy
• Start date May 8, 2009

SwissJeremy

Senior member.

• May 8, 2009

Hi, Do you usually say: "I did a presentation on..." or "I made a presentation on" "I did a speech on..." or "I made a speech on"  

I made a presentation. I made a speech or gave a speech. I have heard people use "did" in both instances, but it's a bit off.  

make/give/do a presentation - suggests all are possible but indicates preferences for make/give with do being considered informal. I would give or make a speech.  

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Free English Lessons

How to use make and do – video.

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In this lesson, you can learn how to use make and do in different ways.

You’ll see the differences between ‘make’ and ‘do’, and all the meanings of each verb. you’ll also see phrasal verbs and collocations with ‘make’ and ‘do’., quiz: how to use make and do.

Now, test your knowledge of what you learned in the lesson by trying this quiz. For every question, you need to write the verb ‘make’ or ‘do’ in the correct tense. There are 20 questions, and you will get your score at the end, when you can click on ‘View Questions’ to see all the correct answers.

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1 . Question

Write the verb ‘make’ or ‘do’ in the correct tense.

Hello? Is that the surgery? I’d like to an appointment to see the doctor as soon as possible, please.

2 . Question

I don’t really feel like dinner tonight. Shall we order a takeaway?

After the verb ‘feel like’ you need to make a decision: infinitive or -ing form?

3 . Question

We’ve only broken even for the last two years, but I hope this year will be different: I really believe we can a profit!

‘Break even’ means that your business earns the same amount of money as it spends. Which verb goes with ‘profit?’

4 . Question

I’m not very confident that I passed the exam. I think I a lot of mistakes in the last part.

Notice that the first sentence refers to the past – so your answer should too!

5 . Question

I really struggled in the first year of university, because I found it difficult to new friends.

This sentence is about the past, but you don’t need the past simple here: after ‘difficult’ (an adjective), what form of the verb is correct?

6 . Question

Write the verb ‘make’ or ‘do’ in the correct tense. Note there are two gaps this time!

Can I a suggestion? It would be great to have a microwave in the staffroom, so we can all meals and bring them in to have for lunch.

You didn’t see the word ‘meals’ in the lesson, but you did see examples of different meals: you need the same verb here.

7 . Question

Please will you stop so much noise? I’m trying to get to sleep.

After the verb ‘stop’, do you need to write the -ing form or the infinitive?

8 . Question

I don’t like chopping onions. It always my eyes water.

Be careful with the form of the verb: the subject is ‘it’.

9 . Question

You should stop reading the newspaper. Every day, it you really angry!

Be careful with the verb form: the subject is ‘it’.

10 . Question

When she heard that she was going to lose her job, it her really upset.

You didn’t see the word ‘upset’ in the lesson, but it means ‘unhappy’ or ‘sad’. Which verb do we use when something produces a reaction? Note that the sentence is in the past simple.

11 . Question

You can’t watch the television until you’ve your homework.

Note that before the gap is the contraction of ‘you + have’: what form of the verb comes next?

12 . Question

We’re really excited about business with you. It’ll be a really productive relationship!

Be careful with the verb form here. What form do you need to write after a preposition? (Extra hint: it’s not the infinitive!)

13 . Question

I’m an online marketing course for six months, as well as my full-time job, so I don’t have much time at the moment!

Note that this sentence is about ‘at the moment’ and you have the auxiliary verb ‘be’ (in ‘I’m); so, which form of the verb do you need to write?

14 . Question

Write the verb ‘make’ or ‘do’ in the correct tense. You only need to write one word.

As part of his Master’s degree, he some research into the melting rate of glaciers. Then, he published a book about it.

15 . Question

Every day as a child, I had to the washing-up. When I left home, the first thing I bought was a dishwasher!

16 . Question

Are you anything after work? Would you like to go for a drink?

Notice the tense here: what form of the verb do you need after ‘are you …’?

17 . Question

We need to something about that shelf. It looks like it’s going to fall down any minute.

Be careful here. In the lesson you saw the words ‘shelf’ and ‘something’: which is the correct verb here?

18 . Question

This time you need to write both verbs in the gap, but in which order?

I didn’t have time to cook, so we’ll have to with some cheese and ham sandwiches.

19 . Question

Scotland their best, but in the end, it was Ireland that won the match.

The sentence is in the past simple, so make sure your answer is too!

20 . Question

I’m so thirsty. I could really with a cup of tea!

1. Basic Ways to Use ‘Do’ and ‘Make’

Gina: What are you doing?

Martin: I’m making a shopping list. I need some stuff to make dinner.

G: What are you going to make?

M: I think some kind of stir-fry. I have to do some work, too, so I need something quick.

G: Sounds tasty! Why do you have to work?

M: I have to make a presentation for our meeting tomorrow, and I need to check through what I’ve written, and maybe change a few things. By the way, can you do the washing-up before I get back? I’d like to start cooking as soon as I get in. I need to do everything and get to bed early.

G: Sure, I’ll do it now.

Here, you saw three ways to use ‘do’ and three ways to use ‘make’. Can you remember them?

• I’m making a shopping list.
• I need some stuff to make dinner.
• I have to make a presentation for our meeting tomorrow.
• Can you do the washing-up before I get back?
• I have to do some work.
• I need to do everything and get to bed early.

Imagine you’re an English teacher . Could you explain the basic difference between ‘do’ and ‘make’ to someone? How would you do it? Think about it!

‘Do’ means to perform an activity or a task. For example, you do work, do the washing-up, or do everything.

‘Make’ means to create something and/or produce a result. If you make a shopping list, make dinner, or make a presentation, then you create something; there’s a result at the end of the process. That’s the basic difference between ‘do’ and ‘make’.

In the rest of this lesson from Oxford Online English, you’ll learn about how to use make and do in more detail, but keep this basic idea in your head.

2. ‘Make’ = Create Something

Martin: What’s that?

Gina: I’m making a card for Sasha’s leaving party. I thought it would be nicer to make it myself, rather than just buy something.

M: How’s it going?

G: It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be! This is my second attempt. I made a lot of mistakes first time and I had to throw it away, but now I think I’m making progress.

M: What happened in the kitchen?! Did you make all that mess?

G: Ah… Yeah… I need to make a cake, too. I mean, I’ve started making a cake.

M: Let me guess: ‘harder than you thought it would be’?

G: Yeah… A little. I’m trying to make an orange and chocolate sponge.

M: There’s chocolate all over the walls! What happened?

G: Well, the mixer was making a strange noise, so I took the lid off to see if there was a problem, but I forgot to turn it off, so the chocolate mixture went everywhere. Don’t worry; I’ll clean it up.

You can use ‘make’ when you create a result. You can use ‘make’ for things with a physical result, like ‘make a card’, ‘make a cake’, or ‘make dinner’. You can also use ‘make’ for non-physical results, like ‘make a mistake’, ‘make progress’ or ‘make a noise’.

Here’s a question: can you think of more examples like this? Pause the video and try to find three more examples of phrases with ‘make’ which describe physical results, and three which describe non-physical results. Can’t think of three? Try to find one, or two! Pause the video and do it now.

Ready? What did you get? For physical results, it’s common to use ‘make’ with food and drink, like ‘make a sandwich’, ‘make a cup of coffee’, or ‘make pizza.’ You can also ‘make a toy’, ‘make a chair’, or ‘make a shelf’, if you do it yourself. You can say that companies make things; for example: ‘Apple make the iPhone’, or ‘Honda make cars’.

For non-physical results, there are many possibilities. You could say ‘make a joke’, ‘make a suggestion’, ‘make a friend’, or ‘make an appointment.’ It’s also common to use ‘make’ with money words, like ‘make money’, ‘make a profit’ or ‘make an investment.’

Did you get any of these phrases? Did you find examples that we didn’t mention? Please share your ideas in the comments!

Next, let’s look at a slightly different way to use ‘make’.

3. Make = Produce a Reaction

Gina: What’s wrong? Did something happen?

Martin: What? No, nothing.

G: You look sad.

M: It’s my allergies . At this time of year, they make my face really puffy. Plus, they make my eyes water.

G: Are you taking anything?

M: Yeah, I take antihistamines, but they don’t help that much, and they make me sleepy.

G: What are you allergic to? Pollen?

M: I think so, but it makes me sensitive to other things, too, like dust. It’s bad, but it only lasts four weeks or so.

You can use ‘make’ to mean ‘produce a reaction in someone.’ Similar to the last section, this could be a physical reaction, as in:

• They make my face really puffy.
• They make my eyes water.
• The antihistamines make me sleepy.

You could also use it for emotional reactions. For example:

• The news made him angry.
• Thinking about what he said made me happy.

Finally, you can use ‘make’ for reactions which are both physical and emotional, like this:

• It was such a sad film. It made me cry for hours.
• He’s so funny. He makes me laugh all the time.

OK, here’s a task for you. Look at three questions:

• What makes you really happy?
• Can you remember the last thing that made you laugh?
• What could make you angry?

Can you answer these three questions for yourself? Pause the video, and make your answers. You can write them down, say them out loud, or both.

OK? Could you do it? Of course, everyone’s answers will be different, but here are three suggestions:

• Being outside on a beautiful day makes me really happy.
• The last thing that made me laugh was a joke my colleague made in a meeting this morning.
• Someone not telling the truth could make me angry.

Were your answers similar, or not? Feel free to post your answers in the comments and share them with other learners.

Now, you’ve seen many ways to use ‘make’. What about ‘do’?

4. Do = Carry Out a Task

Martin: Have you done the report for our sales meeting tomorrow?

Gina: No. I won’t be here. Did you not get my email?

M: What email?

G: I sent it to you last week. I’ve been doing a course on digital marketing, and tomorrow I have to do the final exam.

M: So, who’ll do the report?

G: I don’t know!

M: Is there no way you can do it?

G: Sorry, no. I’ve done most of my work for today, and then I’m going straight home to do some last-minute revision.

Remember that ‘do’ means that you perform a task or an activity. You often use it to talk about things you do at work or school. Look at three examples you heard in the dialogue. Can you remember how to complete the missing words?

• Have you done the ________ for our sales meeting?
• I’ve been doing a ________ on digital marketing.
• I’m going home to do some last-minute ________

Can you get the answers? You’ll see them in a second.

• Have you done the report for our sales meeting?
• I’ve been doing a course on digital marketing.
• I’m going home to do some last-minute revision.

So, you can ‘do work’, ‘do business’, ‘do a deal’, ‘do a report’, and so on. You can also use ‘do’ with other kinds of work, like ‘do housework’ or ‘do homework’. Also, you can use ‘do’ for many things connected with studies and education . You ‘do research’, ‘do exams’, ‘do a course’, ‘do revision’ and ‘do a subject’.

With some of these, you can use other verbs, too. For example, you can ‘do an exam’, or ‘take an exam’. You can also use ‘take’ with ‘course’ or ‘subject’. For example, you can say ‘I have to take four subjects in my first year of university,’ or ‘I have to do four subjects in my first year…’ There’s no difference in meaning; it doesn’t matter which you use.

Let’s look at one more common way to use ‘do’.

5. Do + Something/Anything/Everything/Nothing

Gina: Have you done anything about the washing machine?

Martin: No, not yet.

G: Well, when are you going to do something? It’s been a week. I’m running out of clean clothes!

M: You could do it too, you know. I can’t do everything around here!

G: What do you mean ‘do everything’? You’ve done nothing all day! You spent the morning watching cartoons in your underwear!

M: Fine, I’ll do it tomorrow.

You can use ‘do’ as a general verb in phrases like ‘do something’. You heard three more phrases like this in the dialogue. Can you remember them? You heard, ‘do anything’, ‘do everything’ and ‘do nothing.’

You can use these phrases in different ways. For example:

• I need to do something about my hair. It’s a mess!
• Do you want to do anything this weekend?
• She’s so lazy! She sits in her office all day doing nothing.
• They’re a very close couple; they do everything together.

Easy, right? To practise, try to make your own examples, too.

Let’s do one more thing. In our last section, you’ll see some common collocations and phrases using ‘make’ and ‘do’.

6. Phrasal Verbs and Collocations

Gina: What did you make of the play?

Martin: It was interesting, but you could see that they were on a tight budget. They could have done with better lighting, for one thing. I could hardly see sometimes.

G: I know what you mean. I thought they did a good job of making do with what they had, but obviously it would have been better if they’d had more resources.

M: Yeah, they did their best.

Look at some phrasal verbs and collocations with ‘make’ and ‘do’ which you heard.

• do a good job
• do (your) best

Can you remember how they were used? Could you explain what they mean?

‘Make of’ is mostly used in questions, when you want to ask someone for their opinion. If someone asks you ‘What did you make of it?’, they want to know what you thought. For example, if I ask you, ‘What did you make of the concert?’, I’m asking you for your opinion; did you like it, or not? Did you think it was good, or not?

‘Do with’ means to want or need. It’s conversational. You might say ‘I could do with a cup of tea’, meaning ‘I want a cup of tea.’ ‘Do a good job’ is easier to guess. If you do a good job, you do something well. It doesn’t have to be about work; you could use it about many things. You can also use different adjectives; for example ‘do a bad job’, ‘do an adequate job’, and so on.

‘Make do’ is harder to explain. Look at an example:

• I didn’t have time to cook, so we made do with some snacks and small things.

Does this help? If you make do with something, you don’t have what you want, so you have to find a way to use something else. Here’s another example:

• After we moved, the furniture didn’t arrive for a week, so for a bed we had to make do with a mattress on the floor.

This means that you didn’t have the thing you wanted—your bed—so you had to use something else. ‘Do your best’ means to try as hard as you can. It’s often used when you didn’t get the result you wanted. For example:

• They did their best, but in the end they lost three-nil.
• I did my best, but there was no way I could manage everything alone.

There are many more phrasal verbs and collocations with ‘make’ and ‘do’. Can you think of any more? If so, share your ideas in the comments, and make some examples to share your ideas with other learners!

Thanks for watching!

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'Make' or 'Do'?

Perfect english grammar.

• She made a cake.
• I've made us some coffee.
• Did you really make those trousers?
• What did you do at the weekend?
• I didn't do anything yesterday.
• She's fed up with doing everything herself. She needs some help.
• Are you doing anything interesting during the holidays?
• Make or Do Exercise 1
• Make or Do Exercise 2
• Make or Do Exercise 3
• Make or Do Exercise 4

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How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

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Make or Do a Presentation?

English Usage , The ICAL TEFL Blog

I was asked this question the other day by a learner of English; quite simply, do we MAKE or DO a presentation?

If you go online there are different stories, but as usual I went along to Google n-grams and checked out what they had to say.

It’s interesting. Prior to 1960 nobody really did anything with presentations. They didn’t often make, do, or give them. But soon after everyone was desperate to present something!

But check out the results below. In general, people MAKE a presentation or, slightly less often, GIVE a presentation. Whilst some people will DO a presentation, the number is pretty small compared to the other two options.

Since English teaching is all about teaching what people will need to know in order to make themselves understood, I confidently told the questioner that we MAKE a presentation.

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Interesting point, but I would suggest taking a look at google trends as well.

I got unexpected results when I just checked there; plus one can narrow it down by country and then things tend to go all over the place! What were your conclusions from Trends?

I wouldn’t be so peremptory about it. Check it out:

http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/make-give-do-a-presentation.265531/

HI Glauco, the writer based his advice on usage data. So, nothing prescriptive but pure observation of how language is used in the real world. One can hardly argue with hard facts? 😉

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How to give a good presentation that captivates any audience

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What are the main difficulties when giving presentations?

How to create an effective presentation, after that, how do i give a memorable presentation, how to connect with the audience when presenting.

If you’ve ever heard someone give a powerful presentation, you probably remember how it made you feel. Much like a composer, a good speaker knows precisely when each note should strike to captivate their audience’s attention and leave them with a lasting impression.

No one becomes a great public speaker or presenter without practice. And almost everyone can recall a time one of their presentations went badly — that’s a painful part of the learning process.

Whether you’re working within a small creative team or a large organization, public speaking and presentation skills are vital to communicating your ideas. Knowing how to present your vision can help you pitch concepts to clients, present ideas to your team, and develop the confidence to participate in team meetings.

If you have an upcoming presentation on the horizon and feel nervous, that’s normal. Around 15-30% of the general population experience a fear of public speaking . And, unfortunately, social anxiety is on the rise, with a 12% increase in adults over the last 20 years . 

Learning how to give a good presentation can dismantle your fears and break down these barriers, ensuring you’re ready to confidently share your point of view. 

It’s the week before your presentation, and you’re already feeling nervous . Maybe there’ll be an important mentor in the room you need to impress, or you’re looking for an opportunity to show your boss your value. Regardless of your countless past presentations, you still feel nervous. 

Sharing your vision and ideas with any sized group is intimidating. You’re likely worrying about how you’ll perform as a presenter and whether the audience will be interested in what you offer. But nerves aren’t inherently negative — you can actually use this feeling to fuel your preparation.

It’s helpful to identify where your worries are coming from and address your fears. Here are some common concerns when preparing for an upcoming presentation:

Fear of public speaking: When you share your ideas in front of a group, you’re placing yourself in a vulnerable position to be critiqued on your knowledge and communication skills . Maybe you feel confident in your content, but when you think about standing in front of an audience, you feel anxious and your mind goes blank.

It’s also not uncommon to have physical symptoms when presenting . Some people experience nausea and dizziness as the brain releases adrenaline to cope with the potentially stressful situation . Remember to take deep breaths to recenter yourself and be patient, even if you make a mistake.

Losing the audience’s attention: As a presenter, your main focus is to keep your audience engaged. They should feel like they’re learning valuable information or following a story that will improve them in life or business.

Highlight the most exciting pieces of knowledge and ensure you emphasize those points in your presentation. If you feel passionate about your content, it’s more likely that your audience will experience this excitement for themselves and become invested in what you have to say.

Not knowing what content to place on presentation slides: Overloading presentation slides is a fast way to lose your audience’s attention. Your slides should contain only the main talking points and limited text to ensure your audience focuses on what you have to say rather than becoming distracted by the content on your slides.

Discomfort incorporating nonverbal communication: It’s natural to feel stiff and frozen when you’re nervous. But maintaining effective body language helps your audience stay focused on you as you speak and encourages you to relax.

If you struggle to incorporate body language into your presentations, try starting small by making hand gestures toward your slides. If you’re working with a large audience, use different parts of the stage to ensure everyone feels included. 

Each presenter has their own personal brand and style. Some may use humor to break the ice, while others might appeal to the audience’s emotional side through inspiring storytelling. 

Watching online presentations, such as TED talks, is an excellent way to expose yourself to various presentation styles and develop your own. While observing others, you can note how they carry themselves on stage and learn new ways to keep your audience engaged.

Once you’ve addressed what’s causing your fears, it’s time to prepare for a great presentation. Use your past experience as inspiration and aim to outshine your former self by learning from your mistakes and employing new techniques. Here are five presentation tips to help you create a strong presentation and wow your audience:

1. Keep it simple

Simple means something different to everyone.

Before creating your presentation, take note of your intended audience and their knowledge level of your subject. You’ll want your content to be easy for your intended audience to follow.

Say you’re giving a presentation on improving your company’s operational structure. Entry-level workers will likely need a more straightforward overview of the content than C-suite leaders, who have significantly more experience. 

Ask yourself what you want your audience to take away from your presentation and emphasize those important points. Doing this ensures they remember the most vital information rather than less important supporting ideas. Try organizing these concepts into bullet points so viewers can quickly identify critical takeaways.

2. Create a compelling structure

Put yourself in your audience member’s shoes and determine the most compelling way to organize your information. Your presentation should be articulate , cohesive, and logical, and you must be sure to include all necessary supporting evidence to strengthen your main points.

If you give away all of your answers too quickly, your audience could lose interest. And if there isn’t enough supporting information, they could hit a roadblock of confusion. Try developing a compelling story that leads your audience through your thought processes so they can experience the ups and downs alongside you. 

By structuring your presentation to lead up to a final conclusion, you’re more likely to keep listeners’ attention. Once you’ve reached that conclusion, you can offer a Q&A period to put any of their questions or concerns to rest. 

3. Use visual aids

Appealing to various learning styles is a great way to keep everyone on the same page and ensure they absorb your content. Visual aids are necessary for visual learners and make it easier for people to picture your ideas.

Aim to incorporate a mixture of photos, videos, and props to engage your audience and convey your key points. For instance, if you’re giving a presentation on anthropology subject matter, you could show your audience an artifact to help them understand how exciting a discovery must have been. 

If your presentation is long, including a video for your audience to watch is an excellent way to give yourself a break and create new jumping-off points for your speech.

4. Be aware of design techniques and trends

Thanks to cutting-edge technology and tools, you have numerous platforms at your disposal to create a good presentation. But keep in mind that although color, images, and graphics liven things up, they can cause distraction when misused.

  Here are a few standard pointers for incorporating visuals on your slides: 

• Don’t place blocks of small text on a single slide
• Use a minimalistic background instead of a busy one
• Ensure text stands out against the background color
• Only use high-resolution photos
• Maintain a consistent font style and size throughout the presentation
• Don’t overuse transitions and effects

5. Try the 10-20-30 rule

Guy Kawasaki, a prominent venture capitalist and one of the original marketing specialists for Apple, said that the best slideshow presentations are less than 10 slides , last at most 20 minutes, and use a font size of 30. Following this strategy can help you condense your information, eliminate unnecessary ideas, and maintain your audience’s focus more efficiently.

Once you’re confident in creating a memorable presentation, it’s time to learn how to give one. Here are some valuable tips for keeping your audience invested during your talk: 

Tip #1: Tell stories

Sharing an anecdote from your life can improve your credibility and increase your relatability. And when an audience relates to you, they’re more likely to feel connected to who you are as a person and encouraged to give you their full attention, as they would want others to do the same.

Gill Hicks utilized this strategy well when she shared her powerful story, “ I survived a terrorist attack. Here’s what I learned .” In her harrowing tale, Hicks highlights the importance of compassion, unconditional love, and helping those in need.

If you feel uncomfortable sharing personal stories, that’s okay. You can use examples from famous individuals or create a fictional account to demonstrate your ideas.

Tip #2: Make eye contact with the audience

Maintaining eye contact is less intimidating than it sounds. In fact, you don’t have to look your audience members directly in their eyes — you can focus on their foreheads or noses if that’s easier.

Try making eye contact with as many people as possible for 3–5 seconds each. This timing ensures you don’t look away too quickly, making the audience member feel unimportant, or linger too long, making them feel uncomfortable.

If you’re presenting to a large group, direct your focus to each part of the room to ensure no section of the audience feels ignored. 

Tip #3: Work on your stage presence

Although your tone and words are the most impactful part of your presentation, recall that body language keeps your audience engaged. Use these tips to master a professional stage presence:

• Speak with open arms and avoid crossing them
• Keep a reasonable pace and try not to stand still
• Use hand gestures to highlight important information

Tip #4: Start strong

Like watching a movie trailer, the first seconds of your talk are critical for capturing your audience’s attention. How you start your speech sets the tone for the rest of your presentation and tells your audience whether or not they should pay attention. Here are some ways to start your presentation to leave a lasting impression:

• Use a quote from a well-known and likable influential person 
• Ask a rhetorical question to create intrigue
• Start with an anecdote to add context to your talk 
• Spark your audience’s curiosity by involving them in an interactive problem-solving puzzle or riddle

Tip #5: Show your passion

Don’t be afraid of being too enthusiastic. Everyone appreciates a speaker who’s genuinely excited about their field of expertise. 

In “ Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance ,” Angela Lee Duckworth discusses the importance of passion in research and delivery. She delivers her presentation excitedly to show the audience how excitement piques interest. 

Tip #6: Plan your delivery

How you decide to deliver your speech will shape your presentation. Will you be preparing a PowerPoint presentation and using a teleprompter? Or are you working within the constraints of the digital world and presenting over Zoom?

The best presentations are conducted by speakers who know their stuff and memorize their content. However, if you find this challenging, try creating notes to use as a safety net in case you lose track.

If you’re presenting online, you can keep notes beside your computer for each slide, highlighting your key points. This ensures you include all the necessary information and follow a logical order.

Tip #7: Practice

Practice doesn’t make perfect — it makes progress. There’s no way of preparing for unforeseen circumstances, but thorough practice means you’ve done everything you can to succeed.

Rehearse your speech in front of a mirror or to a trusted friend or family member. Take any feedback and use it as an opportunity to fine-tune your speech. But remember: who you practice your presentation in front of may differ from your intended audience. Consider their opinions through the lens of them occupying this different position.

Tip #8: Read the room

Whether you’re a keynote speaker at an event or presenting to a small group of clients, knowing how to read the room is vital for keeping your audience happy. Stay flexible and be willing to move on from topics quickly if your listeners are uninterested or displeased with a particular part of your speech.

Tip #9: Breathe

Try taking deep breaths before your presentation to calm your nerves. If you feel rushed, you’re more likely to feel nervous and stumble on your words.

The most important thing to consider when presenting is your audience’s feelings. When you approach your next presentation calmly, you’ll put your audience at ease and encourage them to feel comfortable in your presence.

Tip #10: Provide a call-to-action

When you end your presentation, your audience should feel compelled to take a specific action, whether that’s changing their habits or contacting you for your services.

If you’re presenting to clients, create a handout with key points and contact information so they can get in touch. You should provide your LinkedIn information, email address, and phone number so they have a variety of ways to reach you. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all template for an effective presentation, as your unique audience and subject matter play a role in shaping your speech. As a general rule, though, you should aim to connect with your audience through passion and excitement. Use strong eye contact and body language. Capture their interest through storytelling and their trust through relatability.

Learning how to give a good presentation can feel overwhelming — but remember, practice makes progress. Rehearse your presentation for someone you trust, collect their feedback , and revise. Practicing your presentation skills is helpful for any job, and every challenge is a chance to grow.

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6 presentation skills and how to improve them

How to write a speech that your audience remembers, 3 stand-out professional bio examples to inspire your own, how to make a presentation interactive and exciting, tell a story they can't ignore these 10 tips will teach you how, reading the room gives you an edge — no matter who you're talking to, 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills, writing an elevator pitch about yourself: a how-to plus tips, your guide to what storytelling is and how to be a good storyteller, similar articles, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, the 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, how to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really), how the minto pyramid principle can enhance your communication skills, 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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Expressions with DO & MAKE

The English verbs do and make are frequently confused, so pay particular attention to the expressions below. It is best to learn the expressions by heart. Some guidelines do exist to help you determine which word to use when, but in general you will not have time to think through the rules before choosing a word. The best approach is to practice, and then practice some more! When you think you have learned them, try the free quiz that appears after the lists to test yourself.

• to do a favor
• to do a project
• to do a test
• to do an assignment
• to do an exam
• to do badly
• to do business
• to do damage
• to do exercise
• to do homework
• to do housework
• to do nothing
• to do research
• to do something
• to do some letter-writing
• to do some reading
• to do some studying
• to do some writing
• to do the accounts
• to do the cleaning
• to do the dishes
• to do the ironing
• to do the laundry
• to do the math
• to do the maximum
• to do the minimum
• to do the paperwork
• to do the shopping
• to do the vacuuming
• to do your best
• to do your duty
• to do your hair
• to do your nails
• to do your job
• to do your makeup
• to do 50 miles per hour
• to make a booking
• to make a bundle
• to make a call
• to make a cake
• to make a choice
• to make a comment
• to make a complaint
• to make a compromise
• to make a deal
• to make a decision
• to make a difference
• to make a fire
• to make a fool of yourself
• to make a fortune
• to make a fuss
• to make a habit
• to make a move
• to make a phone call
• to make a point
• to make a presentation
• to make a profit
• to make a promise
• to make a remark
• to make a reservation
• to make a sales call
• to make a sound
• to make a speech
• to make a suggestion
• to make a threat
• to make a visit
• to make amends
• to make an appearance
• to make an appointment
• to make an attempt
• to make an enquiry
• to make an exception
• to make an excuse
• to make an offer
• to make arrangements
• to make believe
• to make friends
• to make fun
• to make changes
• to make corrections
• to make love
• to make money
• to make noise
• to make peace
• to make plans
• to make progress
• to make sense
• to make someone angry
• to make someone happy
• to make (someone) mad
• To make someone sad
• to make someone’s day
• to make sure
• to make time
• to make trouble
• to make dinner
• to make lunch
• to make breakfast
• to make a snack
• to make tea/coffee
• to make a mess
• to make a mistake
• to make the bed
• to make war

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How to Give a Presentation

Last Updated: October 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 526,272 times.

Giving a presentation terrifies most of us, especially when talking before a crowd of people about an unfamiliar topic. Never fear! There are ways to make a good presentation. The more presentations you do, the easier they will become!

Preparing For the Presentation

• It's best to have 1 main thesis statement or overarching theme and 3 main points that back-up or flesh-out your main theme. Any more than that and your audience is going to start losing interest. This means that any facts and information that are a part of your presentation should back up these 3 main points and overarching theme.
• For example: If you're giving a presentation about 17th century alchemy, bringing up the history of alchemy is fine (and probably necessary), but don't mire your audience in its history instead of focusing alchemy in the 17th century. Your 3 points could be something like "alchemy in public opinion," "famous 17th century alchemists," and "the legacy of 17th century alchemy."

• Pick your very best supporting facts, information, or quotes for your presentation. Don't bury your audience in information.

• Make sure you're using media to enhance your presentation and not to drown it out. The presentation is key. Anything else is just accessorizing.
• For example: to get back to 17th century alchemy, to back up your information about alchemy in the public opinion, you might want to show images from public pamphlets about the dangers of alchemy and see what people of the time period had to say about it and see what the more famous alchemists had to say about it.
• Also, you want to make sure that you pick a medium that you are comfortable in and thorough in knowledge. If you don't know a thing about PowerPoint, maybe consider writing your main points on a white board, or passing out handouts with your main points and evidence on them. [3] X Research source

• A good tip is to film yourself or audiotape of yourself giving your practice presentation so you can see what distracting verbal and physical tics you have, so that you can work on eliminating them before the presentation itself. (Verbs tics would be things like "um..." and "uh..." and using "like" inappropriately; physical tics are things like shifting your weight from foot to foot or messing with your hair.) To stop yourself from saying "um" or other unwanted tics, be aware you're doing it first, then speak more slowly and deliberately. Breathe deeply and feel free to pause and appreciate the silence. These will all help you to have mastery over your tics.
• Just remember that rehearsals usually run about 20% shorter than your actual presentation, so take that into account if you're running on a time limit.

• For example, if you aren't comfortable wearing heels, don't wear them just for the presentation. You'll be distracted by your discomfort and that will come across in the presentation. There are plenty of good shoe choices that have no or a low heel.
• Clean, nice slacks or a skirt and nice, button-down shirt in neutral colors are always good choices for presentation wear. You also don't particularly want your clothing choice to distract from the presentation, so perhaps avoid that brilliant hot pink shirt.

Giving the Presentation

• Before the presentation, clench and unclench your hands several times to deal with the adrenaline and then take 3 deep, slow breaths.
• Call up a smile, even if you feel like hurling. You can trick your brain into thinking that you're less anxious than you actually are and you'll also be able to hide your nervousness from your audience.

• Make eye contact with your audience. Don't stare at one particular person, but section up the room and make eye contact with someone in each section on a rotational basis.
• Have a big, welcoming smile on your face, with lots of energy, so you start out from a strong and engaging place.
• Ask questions of your audience and take questions during your presentation. This will make it more of a conversation and therefore more interesting.
• Tell an amusing anecdote to illustrate your point. From the above examples about 17th century alchemy, you could find an amusing alchemical anecdote from the time period, or you could talk about your own forays into alchemy.

• Move around, but make your movements deliberate. Don't nervously shift your feet (in fact, it's a good idea to imagine that your feet are nailed to the floor except for those times you deliberately choose to move).
• Use your vocal inflections to create a more dynamic presentation. Vary your voice as you're talking. Nobody ( ever ) wants to sit there and listen to someone drone on and on in dull monotone, no matter how interesting the material (think Professor Binns from Harry Potter; that's what you don't want).
• Try to create a balance between rehearsed and spontaneous. Spontaneous, on the spot, movement and asides can be great as long as you are really comfortable, otherwise they can sidetrack your presentation and make it rambling. Mess around with spontaneous and rehearsed when you're practicing and you'll get a feel for it.

• Quickly introduce your topic and don't assume that your audience is familiar with all the terms, especially if your topic is one that isn't widely known.
• Figuring out why you want (or have to) give this presentation will help you work with an overarching story/theme. Maybe you want to pass the class. Maybe you're convincing people to give you money or join you in a philanthropic endeavor or act for a social or political reason. Channel that desire into your presentation. You're answering the question of why they would want to pass you or why they would want to fund you. That's the story you're telling.

• Make use of pauses, and learn to be comfortable with silences. Silence can be a powerful presentation tool and gives you a chance to take a moment to recompose. By taking pauses, you can slow down your breathing and be more deliberate in your speech, avoiding speaking too quickly.
• Have water with you and take a sip when you feel you're going too fast.
• If you have a friend in the class or meeting, arrange with them beforehand that they will let you know with a signal whether you're talking too quickly. Look over their way occasionally and check your progress.
• If you find that you're running out of time and you haven't finished, simply drop or summarize your leftover material. Acknowledge the leftover material as something that can be discussed later or in the Q&A.

• Make it clear what the listeners now know and why it is important that they have this new information.
• Conclude with examples or stories about your main point and take home message. You might want a slide which summarizes your presentation. For example, you might conclude with a story about the nature of alchemy in the modern era (perhaps in a film) to show its malleable nature.

What Is The Best Way To Start a Presentation?

Community Q&A

• Have a short Q&A session at the end of each subtopic. Q&A sessions will improve audience engagement. It also acts as a welcome break for audience in case of long presentation. For this though, you will need to know the subject you choose well. Make sure you understand and have more than just the basic knowledge about the topic you choose. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Use pictures or visuals. Pictures and visuals show that you know what you're talking about, and it gives the audience a picture of what you're talking about. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Try to have a "leave behind" message, something that your audience can take away that reminds them about your presentation, like a flyer or a book, for example. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Use pictures! A good way to use pictures is through PowerPoint. If you don't have PowerPoint, you can print the pictures onto a board (paper, card board, or larger paper).
• Don't be nervous. Practice and do just like you did in practice. If you are nervous, the audience will know.
• Try to do some hand jesters. Speak loud and clear. Make eye contact with them. Be confident.
• Let the audience have an opportunity to interact with you.

• Don't make your speech too long, unless it is really good, and you have to have done speeches for a long time to have them be that good and long. Stick to short and sweet. Thanks Helpful 49 Not Helpful 11
• Don't put off work to the last minute. Then your work will be most likely sloppy. If you do well under pressure, do your project a bit at a time and maybe it will get done. Or, try doing it all at the beginning, so then you have the whole rest of the time to play or check your assignment. Thanks Helpful 35 Not Helpful 16
• Jokes are usually not okay, especially in a professional setting. A light hearted comment is fine, but don't make it seem like a comedy show. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 3
• If you speak in a too fast/slow or monotone voice, people will not want to hear you! Aim for a conversation voice (but slightly louder) with natural pauses (commas and periods). Develop a tone depending on what you're talking about. It's more interesting and engaging to hear someone speak in a serious tone rather than a monotone when speaking about world hunger. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 2
• If you suffer from twitchy fingers, be mindful to move your hands during your presentation only when necessary, or the audience may notice and feel you are unprepared. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/young-entrepreneur-council/13-tips-for-giving-a-kill_b_3728093.html
• ↑ https://www.niu.edu/presentations/prepare/index.shtml
• ↑ https://algonquincollege.libguides.com/studyskills/creating-presentations
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-prepare-the-presentation
• ↑ http://www.washington.edu/doit/TeamN/present_tips.html
• ↑ https://counseling.uiowa.edu/self-help/30-ways-to-manage-speaking-anxiety/
• ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/how-to-engage-your-audience-and-keep-them-with-you
• ↑ http://hbr.org/2013/06/how-to-give-a-killer-presentation/ar/1
• ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-slow-down-your-speech-when-presenting-sharon-maree-jurd-cfe/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-conclude-a-presentation

About This Article

Before you give a presentation, spend some time crafting what you will say. Most presentations should center on a thesis, or main idea, and contain about 3 supporting points. Cutting unnecessary content will ensure your presentation is impactful. Once your presentation is done, practice delivering it in front of a mirror or while recording yourself so you can identify and correct any issues. To calm your nerves before you present, try clenching your fists a few times and taking several deep breaths. For more advice about giving presentations, like whether to use visual aides, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Make vs. Do: Learn The Difference With 140+ Expressions And Examples

Confused about how to use the words ‘make’ and ‘do’ in English? No problem! In this study guide, we will show you 140+ expressions and examples to demonstrate the practical differences between make vs. do. Ready? Let’s jump in!

• Make vs. do
• 140+ collocations
• Phrasal verbs
• Tips & exercises

What you will learn:

• What is the difference between make and do? • 140+ make vs. do collocations • Phrasal verbs with make and do • Practice tips and links to exercises

What is the difference between make and do?

Make or do? – that is the question! These are some of the most commonly confused words for learners of English. Most errors appear where there are differences in how and when ‘make’ and ‘do’ are used in English vs. your native language. Let’s look at some basic theory to understand the general meaning of ‘make’ vs. ‘do’ in English.

How to use MAKE

I make – He/She makes – We/They make I will make – I am making – I made – I have made

The verb make is used when talking about creation or production in a process. In other words, it is used to refer to the result of an action . For example: ‘ Make a cup of tea’, ‘ Make plans for the future’ or ‘ Make a model boat out of wood’.

Made can be used to indicate the material of a product. For example, we can say that a spoon is ‘ made of steel ’. In this case, we would say made , as in the past tense of make. The creation has already taken place and now the spoon is made of steel.

How to use DO

I do – She/He does – They/We do I will do – I am doing – I did – I have done

The verb ‘do’ is used when we talk about tasks, duties, obligations and routine work . It refers to the process of carrying out these actions. This verb is similar to the formal words perform or execute (as in: execute a command). For example: ‘ I did my homework yesterday evening.’ (completed task).

Another use of the verb do is to replace a different verb in the context of a clear or straightforward result. For example: ‘ Do the dishes ’ (vs. wash the dishes). ‘ Do my hair ’ means cut, dye, style or perform another similar action on my hair. The word ‘do’ can also be used for recreational and individual sports, such as martial arts. For example: ‘ Do karate twice a week ’ (take part in this sporting activity, perhaps by attending a class).

Remember that ‘do’ can be used as an auxiliary verb in questions and for added emphasis. In these contexts, it is not used to mean ‘performing an action’.

Do in questions : In ‘ Do you like music?’ the word ‘do’ is just used to indicate a question. ‘You like music.’ would be a fact. Learners often make the mistake of leaving out the ‘do’ in English questions because in their own language rising intonation is enough. Only in informal English is this possible where the context is 100% clear. For example, just: ‘Coffee?’ (when you are about to pour a cup and you are asking for your friend’s permission).

Do for emphasis : In ‘Lucy thinks I don’t love her, but I do . I really do !’ the use of ‘do’ shows the contradiction between what Lucy thinks and what the speaker feels. In summary, ‘do’ usually refers to the process and ‘make’ refers to the result or creative aspect of the process. For example, you would do some cooking (process), but you would make dinner (result).  

140+ Collocations with make or do

Collocations with MAKE

COMMUNICATION

• Make a demand (= Ask for something in an authoritative manner) ‘Several bank staff are being held hostage and the robbers are now making demands .’
• Make an objection (= Complain or dispute something) ‘If anyone would like to make an objection , please raise your hand now.’
• Make a complaint (= State unhappiness) ‘The angry customer made a complaint to the company’s head office.’
• Make a phone call (= Call someone on the phone) ‘I need to make a quick phone call . Can I use your landline?’
• Make enquiries (= Ask about a subject, request information) ‘I’m thinking about joining a local company, but I still need to make some enquiries .’
• Make an offer (= Suggest, put forward a proposal) I was going to put my house on the market, but then a friend made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.’
• Make an agreement (= Reach consensus, create legislation) ‘Politicians at the summit are eager to make an agreement on climate change.’
• Make a comment (= Briefly give your opinion) ‘I would like to make a comment on the issue of social housing.’
• Make a remark (= Comment in a spontaneous manner) ‘The journalist made a sarcastic remark about the politician’s personal fortune.’
• Make a speech (= Speak publicly on a topic) ‘At British weddings, it is customary for the father of the bride to make a speech .’
• Make a fuss (= Complain, worry unnecessarily, give affectionate attention) ‘I wish my husband wouldn’t make such a fuss every time I go out with my friends!’ ‘My grandma always made a fuss of us as children.’ (Positive – loved and spoiled them)
• Make an excuse (= Justify an action) ‘The boss made an excuse and left the meeting early.’
• Make a point (= State an argument, advocate an idea) ‘John made some good points in his presentation, but I didn’t agree with everything he said.’
• Make an observation (= Give your view on a topic, state what you have noticed) ‘Following our exam results, the teacher made several observations about our lack of progress!’

• Make a suggestion (= Put forward an idea, share an opinion to help others) ‘Could I make a suggestion ? Perhaps red curtains would go better with this wallpaper.’
• Make conversation (= Talk to others, sometimes about trivial matters) ‘When I asked about his new job, I was just making conversation .’(No real interest)
• Make contact (= Find and establish communication) ‘After a 5-year absence, Mary’s brother finally made contact with her via Facebook.’
• Make a noise/sound (= Produce a sound) ‘I thought the dishwasher was broken because it was making a strange noise .’
• Make an exception (= Agree to break the rules in one instance) ‘We don’t normally allow dogs in here, but I suppose we can make an exception this time.’
• Make it clear (= Ensure something is understood by all) ‘I’d like to make it clear that all new staff are expected to attend our weekly meetings.’

FOOD & DRINK

• Make a cake (= Bake a cake) ‘My mum makes me a cake for my birthday every year.’
• Make spaghetti (= Cook spaghetti, could also mean to make it from raw ingredients) ‘The Italians make the world’s most fantastic fresh spaghetti !’ (Make from scratch) ‘I’m making spaghetti for dinner. Would you like some?’ (Cooking)
• Make a cup of tea (= Brew tea, make a cuppa) ‘Work has been an absolute nightmare today! Make me a nice cuppa , would you?’
• Make a snack (= Prepare a snack) ‘Dave was supposed to be on a diet, but I found him in the kitchen making a snack !’
• Make a meal (= Cook a meal, make breakfast/lunch/dinner) ‘Would you mind making some meals for my granddad while I’m away on holiday?’ ‘I’ll make dinner tonight if you make breakfast tomorrow morning, ok?’

MONEY & WORK

• Make money (= Earn money) ‘I heard that if you start your own business, you can make some serious money !’ ‘There are many ways to make money . Robbing a bank is just one of them!’
• Make a bid (= Compete to buy at auction/tender, attempt to get) ‘Our company made a bid on a large commercial property at an auction last week.’ ‘Our charity is in the process of making a bid for additional government grants.’
• Make a trade (= Perform stock market operation, exchange) ‘With current stock market volatility, it’s hard to know exactly when to make a trade .’
• Make a loss (= Loose money in a business context) ‘If a company makes a loss , it can be in danger of running up debts or going bankrupt.’
• Make a profit (= Gain money in a business context) ‘If our firm makes a profit this year, I will get a 10% bonus!’
• Make a fortune (= Become rich by earning money) ‘I friend of mine has recently made a fortune in the property business.’
• Make an investment (= Put in capital in order to gain profit later) ‘Our company has made several key investments in the Middle East this year.’
• Make a living (= Earn enough money to cover expenses) ‘How do British expats make a living in Spain if they don’t speak the language?’
• Make a name for yourself (= Form a reputation) ‘Jessica has really made a name for herself . You should see her sales figures this quarter!’
• Make a law (= Set a rule, introduce new legislation) ‘The government has made a law to stop people smoking in the workplace.’
• Make room/way (= Accommodate, compromise to make something fit) ‘I’m super busy this week! Any chance you could make room for me on the 16th?’ ‘Several older members of staff have been fired to make way for the new recruits.’
• Make a payment (= Pay for something) ‘I need to make a payment using a business debit card, but your website isn’t working!’

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

• Make (someone) smile/laugh (= Cause to smile or laugh) ‘John’s a funny guy! When we’re down the pub, he always makes me laugh .’
• Make (someone) happy/sad/angry (= Cause to feel) ‘The council’s decision to close the library has made local residents really angry .’
• Make amends (= Make reparations, rectify a wrongdoing) ‘Do you think convicted murderers can ever make amends for their crimes?’
• Make love (= Have sexual intercourse with someone you care about) ‘Police in Thailand have arrested two British tourists for making love on the beach!’

NOTE:  It is a common mistake to say ‘make sex’. The correct form is ‘have sex’ or ‘make love’.

• Make a move (= Make a pass at someone, also ‘leave’ in slang) ‘Martin really likes Sally, but he’s too shy to make a move (on her).’ ‘It’s already 1am! Shall we make a move ?’(Leave, go)
• Make a good impression (= Show your best side) ‘When you go on a first date, it’s important to make a good impression (on the person).’
• Make a promise (= Swear to do something, give your word) ‘When I was a kid, I made a promise to my mum. Now I still clean my room once a week!’
• Make friends (= Become friends with someone) ‘Maggie’s really outgoing so she makes friends easily at home and abroad.’
• Make a commitment (= Accept responsibility, form a binding relationship) ‘I really love my boyfriend, but we’ve got no future if he can’t make a commitment .’

NOTE: In the context of relationships, a ‘commitment’ could be any of the following: agreeing to only date one person, moving in with your partner, making long-term plans together, considering marriage.

• Make a fool of yourself (= Embarrass yourself by saying or doing the wrong thing) ‘The goalkeeper made a fool of himself by throwing the ball into his own net!’
• Make war/peace (= Start/stop conflict) ‘Some countries make war , while others make peace .’  
• Make an example of (= Punish one person to discourage others from doing the same) ‘Jon was late for school again so the teacher decided to make an example of him .’
• Make fun of (= Joke about someone or something) ‘Can you please stop teasing your sister? She doesn’t like it when you make fun of her ! ’  
• Make trouble (= Create a problem for others, antagonise) ‘On match days, football fans are often blamed for making trouble in the city.’

PLANNING & CHOICES

• Make the best/most of (= Take advantage, seize the opportunity, tolerate) ‘Ronaldo made the most of the defender’s mistake and rounded the goalkeeper to score.’ ‘Tomorrow’s weather isn’t great for our walk, but we’ll just have to make the most of it .’
• Make a decision (= Decide, choose, come to a conclusion) ‘Are you coming with us to Spain? You really need to make a decision by next weekend.’
• Make (something) happen (= Cause to happen) ‘The authorities still don’t know what made this terrible tragedy happen .’ ‘We’ve only got 24 hours to complete this project. Let’s make it happen , people!’
• Make up your mind (= Decide on something, choose) ‘Michelle is still dating two different guys because she can’t make up her mind !’  
• Make an exception (= Allow a rule to be broken due to special circumstances) ‘We don’t usually allow babies in the pool, but I’ll ask if we can make an exception .’  
• Make an attempt (= Try to do something) ‘Mike made an attempt to look interested, but physics wasn’t really his subject.’
• Make a judgement (= Analyse a situation, give an opinion) ‘It is difficult to make objective judgements about foreign policy issues.’  
• Make an effort (= Work hard to achieve a goal, attempt) ‘You need to make an effort if you want to pass your exams this summer!’
• Make progress (= Advance, develop) ‘I really feel like I’m making progress with my book. It should be ready to publish soon!’
• Make a plan (= Agree on a course of action) ‘If you want to be successful in business, then first you need to make a plan .’
• Make time (= Set aside time for something/someone) ‘I’d love to go to the gym, but I just can’t make time at the moment!’ ‘Work’s been taking over recently! I really need to make more time for my kids.’  
• Make a difference (= Have an effect on) ‘Curtis is so stubborn! You can try to persuade him, but it won’t make any difference .’ ‘I want to find a job where I can make a difference to people’s lives.’
• Make a change (= Start something new, change your life or behaviour) ‘I’ve been living in London for 2 years, but now I feel it’s time to make a change .’
• Make sure/certain (= Ensure something is as it should be) ‘ Make sure you take your passport to the airport. Don’t forget it like you did last time!’

DAILY ROUTINE

• Make the bed (= Make fit for use/sleep, tidy up) ‘I’ll make the bed if you go downstairs and make breakfast.’
• Make a mess (= Create an untidy, dirty or disorganised situation) ‘If you give kids brushes and paint, they are bound to make a mess !’ ‘My boss has made a total mess of this paperwork! I’ll have to do it all again tomorrow.’

PHYSICAL OBJECTS & PRODUCTION

• Make a dress (= Create or sew a dress)‘ My friend Gill made her own wedding dress and it looked fantastic!’  
• Make furniture (= Create furniture through carpentry or woodwork)‘ My grandfather used to make furniture for a living. These days it’s all made in factories.’
• Make a copy (= Duplicate, create a copy of something) ‘I love this album! Can you make me a copy ?’  
• Make a new product (= Invent, think up) ‘Apple is always making new products . That’s what makes it such a great tech company.’
• Make steel wire (= Manufacture) ‘This factory used to make steel wire , but it closed due to competition from overseas.’
• Make a fire (= Build and light a fire) ‘When trying to survive in the wilderness, the first thing to do is make a fire .’

MIND & IMAGINATION

• Make a wish (= Will something to happen, hope something will come true) ‘When you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, don’t forget to make a wish !’’
• Make believe (= Imaginary, fantasy, ideal but not real) ‘The government has promised to invest in public services, but that’s just make believe !’ ‘ Alice in Wonderland is a children’s book that is set in a make-believe world.’ (Adjective)
• Make sense (= Be sensible, reasonable, understood) ‘I don’t think it makes sense to earn a lot of money if you then have no time to enjoy it.’ ‘Did you have a bit to drink last night? You weren’t making any sense on the phone!’  
• Make a discovery (= Find something new, invent, realise) ‘Scientists from NASA have made a new discovery on Mars!’

APPOINTMENTS & TRAVEL

• Make a visit (Go to, travel to) ‘The Queen will make a state visit to France while she is in Europe.’  
• Make a booking/reservation (= Reserve a place) ‘I’d like to make a reservation . Do you have any availability on Sunday the 25 th at 7pm?’
• Make an appointment (= Schedule an individual consultation or meeting) ‘All patients wishing to make an appointment should phone to book in advance.’  
• Make arrangements (= Organise or plan something) ‘I’ve made arrangements for the kids to stay with my parents over the weekend.’
• Make a cancellation (= Annul a previous booking or appointment) ‘Hello, I’m phoning to make a cancellation . My order number is…’
• Make a list (= Have an agenda of tasks) ‘My wife has made a list of all the things I’ve done wrong. As you can imagine, it’s quite long!’
• Make a journey (= Travel somewhere) ‘To raise money for charity, Jan is planning to make a journey from the UK to Mongolia!’
• Make it (= Get to a place, attend) ‘I’m really busy next weekend, but I’ll do my best to make it to the party!’ ‘I’m afraid I’m not going to make it back in time for dinner.’(Get home)

NOTE: We can also use ‘make’ to mean: get into or deserve a place in. For example, ‘John made the first team’ (won a place in the team through his performance) or ‘The car accident made the headlines’ (was included in the news). John did not create or form the team, nor did the car accident write the headlines.

Collocations with DO

• Do the dishes/washing/ironing (= Wash the dishes, wash and iron clothes) ‘I really hate doing the dishes , but I don’t mind mowing the lawn.’
• Do housework (= Perform routine cleaning/tidying around the house) ‘Women still do the majority of housework in the UK, and that’s not fair!’
• Do the shopping (= Buy food and household goods) ‘We do the shopping once a week at a large supermarket.’
• Do it yourself (= DIY, perform amateur repairs or renovation work yourself) ‘I only learned to do DIY when I bought my first house. It needed a lot of work!’
• Do your nails (= Have a manicure) ‘Do you do your own nails or do you go to a beauty salon?’
• Do your makeup (= Put on cosmetics) ‘How long does it take for you to do your makeup in the morning?’
• Do 60 miles per hour (= Drive or travel at 60 mph) ‘When I commute to London, I want to be doing 70 (mph) , but I’m usually stuck in traffic!’

STUDY & THOUGHT

• Do maths/biology/English (= Study a subject) ‘What’s your son doing at school now? Mine is doing A-Level Maths and Biology ?’
• Do homework (= Complete tasks given by your teacher) ‘When I was at school, all the kids used to do their homework on the bus in the morning!’
• Do an exercise (= Complete a study or training task) ‘The Biology teacher asked us to do an exercise from the textbook.’
• Do a crossword (= Complete a crossword puzzle) ‘I like doing crosswords on the train.’
• Do a quiz (= Play a game in which you have to answer questions on a topic) ‘My parents do a quiz at the local pub every Wednesday night.’
• Do a translation (= Convert from one language to another) ‘On the final exam, you have to do a translation from French into English.’
• Do research (= Investigate a topic, study in depth) ‘British cancer specialists are currently doing research into cell regeneration.’
• Do some studying (= Learn something, revise) ‘I really need to do some studying because I’m behind on my uni work!’
• Do an essay (= Complete an assignment) ‘Will I have to do any essays as part of the English course?’
• Do a test/exam (= Evaluate, check knowledge) ‘I disagree with scientists doing tests on lab rats. It’s so cruel!’ ‘Are you doing your exams this week or next?’
• Do a task (= Solve a problem, perform a job) ‘The teacher asked us to do a task on reading comprehension.’
• Do a course (= Attend a class or study programme) ‘If I have time, I’d like to do a Spanish course abroad next summer.’
• Do a robbery (= Commit an armed theft) ‘The police were unaware that the gang was planning to do a robbery in the area.’
• Do time (= Spend time in prison) ‘I guy I used to go to school with is now doing time for murder .’
• Do drugs (= Take illegal narcotics) ‘At British schools they teach teenagers about the dangers of doing drugs .’
• Do a raid (= Police attack to arrest criminals) ‘The police did a raid on a local warehouse early this morning.’

SPORTS & HOBBIES

• Do sport (= Engage in sports, USA = ‘play sports’) ‘How often do kids do sport at your school?’ (Informal)
• Do exercise (= Train physically) ‘Doctors recommend you do some active physical exercise every day.
• Do Karate/Judo (= Train in martial arts) ‘I used to do karate when I was a uni, but I don’t have time these days.’
• Do gymnastics/ballet/yoga (= Perform or practise gymnastics/ballet/yoga) ‘My mum’s really active! She does yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.’
• Do Athletics (= Train in athletics) ‘I hated doing athletics at school. Now I won’t even watch the Olympics!’
• Do a drawing (= Sketch or draw something) ‘My daughter did a beautiful drawing for me so I put it up on the wall at work.’
• Do a dance (= Show your dance moves, perform a dance) ‘When I win a new contract a work, I always do a little victory dance for my colleagues!’
• Do a number (= Perform a live act) ‘Harry did a great number at the charity talent show. I never knew he could juggle!’

NOTE: Football, rugby, cricket, basketball, tennis, etc. usually to take ‘play’ and not ‘do’.

WORK & BUSINESS

• What do you do? (= What is your job?) ‘I work for a large law firm. What do you do (for a living)?’
• Do business (= Trade, buy or sell) ‘ Doing business internationally can be a real challenge.’ ‘Our company mostly does business with local suppliers.’
• Do work (= Carry out a job or task) ‘Can you please stop distracting me? I really need to do some work this afternoon!’
• Do a deal (= Agree a contract or arrangement) ‘I heard you’re doing a deal with Sony. That’s great news for the company!’
• Do a project (= Execute a planned set of tasks) ‘Our firm is doing a joint project with a company from Holland.’
• Do your job (= Perform your work-related tasks) ‘If you do your job well, you can expect a nice bonus at the end of the year.’
• Do an operation (= Perform a surgical procedure) ‘Doctor Pearce was in theatre doing an operation so I called another member of staff.’
• Do an experiment (= Carry out an experiment) ‘We’re doing an experiment at work to examine the effects of stress on productivity.’
• Do paperwork (= Carry out bureaucratic admin tasks) ‘I’m responsible for doing most of the paperwork in our family business.’
• Do the accounts/books (= Perform accounting work) ‘I’m no good with numbers so I get an accountant to do my books once a year.’
• Do a talk (= Give a public presentation or speech) ‘Our local school has invited me in to do a talk about career opportunities in London.’
• Do a presentation (= Conduct a formal talk on a subject) ‘I’m super nervous because I have to do a presentation at our next conference.’
• Do overtime (= Stay late to work more) ‘Julie is off sick so I have to do overtime all this week to cover for her.’

ACTIONS: GOOD, BAD & GENERAL

• Do your best (= Try your hardest) ‘I know you didn’t have enough time to revise for the exam, but just do your best! ’
• Do good (= Perform an act of kindness, be of benefit to your health) ‘Charities in Africa think they’re doing good , but perhaps that’s not always the case.’ ‘You should get out in the fresh air more. It would do you good !’
• Do the right thing (= Act in a morally correct way) ‘Divorces are never easy, but I’m sure you’ll both do the right thing by your kids.’
• Do your duty (= Fulfil your responsibility) ‘Soldiers need to do their duty to their country in times of war.’
• Do a favour (= Help another person) ‘Can you do me a big favour and pick the kids up from school tomorrow?’
• Do something right/wrong (= Carry out an action correctly/incorrectly) ‘You must have done something wrong because now the computer isn’t working at all.’ ‘Beautiful wife, smart kids, great job…you must be doing something right !’ (In life)
• Do well/badly (= Perform well/badly) ‘Mary did well in her exams, but her brother did badly (in his exams).’  
• Do harm (= Hurt, injure) ‘It wouldn’t do you any harm to help me with the housework once in a while!’  
• Do damage (= Harm someone or something) ‘The accident did some serious damage to the side of my car!’
• Do a lot (= Perform frequently, make a valuable contribution) ‘George does a lot for the local community through his volunteer work.’ ‘Do you do a lot of cycling during the week?’
• Do the (bare) minimum (= Put minimum effort into something) ‘When it comes to tidying the office, my colleagues always do the bare minimum !’
• Do it to the max (= Put maximum effort into something, enjoy to the full) ‘If you only go clubbing once a year, then you might as well do it to the max !’
• Do anything (= Perform any action, sacrifice it all) ‘Honestly, I haven’t done anything ! It was all Lucy’s fault.’ ‘I would do literally anything to meet Brad Pitt!’
• Do everything (= Complete all tasks, try your hardest) ‘I promise to do everything I can to help.’
• Do nothing (= Be idle, ignore) ‘My favourite hobby is doing nothing .’

Phrasal verbs with make and do

Phrasal verbs with MAKE

a) Imagine, think up, invent, lie

‘If you don’t know the answer, then just make one up !’ ‘I really believed my son’s story about the broken window, but he had just made it up .’

b) Make peace after an argument, reconcile

‘I had an argument with my wife, but we’ve made up now.’ ‘Has Mike made up with Chloe? I know they had a fight last week.’

c) Decide, choose (make up one’s mind)

‘There’s so much choice that I can’t make up my mind which ice cream to get!’ ‘Will you please make up your mind ? We haven’t got all day!’

d) Constitute, consist of (scientific/formal)

‘A car engine is made up of many different components.’ ‘This social committee is made up of 12 community representatives.’

e) Compensate for, add missing money/time

‘If you pay your share of the bill, then I will make up the difference.’ ‘I was off work with a cold last week so now I’m making up the time by staying late.’ ‘Sorry I didn’t get to your birthday! I promise I’ll make it up to you next time I’m in town.’ ‘If I make a mistake a work, then I always try to make up for it after.’

f) Put on cosmetics

‘June liked to make herself up before going to the theatre.’ ‘My girlfriend won’t leave the house without putting her makeup on!’ (Noun)

g) Prepare a room or bed for a guest

‘Robert’s coming to stay tomorrow so we need to make up the spare room.’ ‘Have you made (up) the guest bed for Robert yet?’

a) Understand, comprehend (with difficulty)

‘She couldn’t make out what he was saying (due to the noise).’ ‘Steve is such a weird guy! I just can’t make him out .’ ‘Why are English trains always late? I just can’t make it out ! ‘I could just about make out her writing, even though the letter was old and faded.’

b) Complete and sign over to

‘Richard made the cheque out to his son.’ ‘The old man made out a will to his next of kin.’

c) Pretend, give a false impression

‘Some famous rappers make out they are real gangsters.’ ‘The art thief made out that the fake copy was an original.’

d) Engage in sexual activity or intercourse (USA, informal)

‘The young couple were making out in the car when the police arrived.’

Think, understand, conclude

‘I’m not sure what to make of this!’ (I don’t know what to conclude, don’t understand it) ‘What do you make of this student’s poor attendance?’ (What is your opinion?)

Leave quietly, escape with a stolen item

‘We caught a brief glimpse of the tiger before it made off into the dark jungle.’ ‘The burglar made off with a flat screen TV and some cash.’

Change into, turn into, transform

‘We plan to make our attic into an art studio.’ ‘Worrying about your problems all the time will make you into a nervous wreck!’

a) Transfer ownership

‘I will make this house over to you before I die.’

b) Remodel, improve the appearance of something or someone

‘On the TV dating show, the 3 contestants were given a free makeover .’ (Noun) ‘Our house is in a bad condition, but we plan to make it over .’ (USA)

Go towards, try to escape

‘If you make for the valley, then you’ll be back at the campsite by nightfall.’ ‘The frightened kitten made for the door, but it was closed.’

Phrasal verbs with DO

a) Improve condition of, renovate

‘We’ve bought a new house, but need to do it up before we can move in. ‘They really should do up the local school! It has been neglected for years.’

b) Fasten, close

‘It’s getting cold. Do up your coat!’ ‘We’re not driving anywhere until you do your seatbelt up !’

Fix up, renovate, decorate

‘They’ve had their kitchen done out in green tiles and marble worktops.’

Take away unfairly, prevent someone receiving what is rightfully theirs

‘Maggie’s relatives have secretly done her out of a large inheritance.’

Relate to, be connected with

‘I think tectonic plates have something to do with earthquakes, don’t they?’ ‘Can you please mind your own business? This has nothing to do with you!’

Continue or live without something or someone

‘I’ve had my dog Sammy for 10 years. Now I just can’t do without him !’ ‘If you don’t want to eat what I’ve cooked, then you can just do without !’ (Not eat anything)

a) Repeat, do again

‘This assignment is no good at all! You’ll have to do it over .’ (USA)

‘The thief claims that the police did him over in his cell.’

Belittle, criticise, put down

‘I don’t think my boss likes me. He’s always trying to do me down !’ Note: ‘Put down’ is more common in British English.

DO AWAY WITH

Get rid of, abolish, remove

‘They are doing away with diesel cars. In the future, no one will manufacture them.’ ‘The UK government has voted to do away with fox hunting.’  

Practice tips and links to exercises

In this guide, you have seen over 160 combinations (collocations and phrasal verbs) with the words ‘make’ and ‘do’. However, learning them all is easier said than done! Try the following tips and exercises to help you remember the most commonly used expressions.

Tips to help you learn make vs. do collocations

• KNOW THE BASICS: If something physical or abstract is being created, then ‘make’ is the likely choice. If the context focuses on the performance of a repetitive process, then ‘do’ may be preferable.
• HIT THE BOOKS: Textbooks like the Phrasal Verbs in Use series (Cambridge) and Practical English Usage (M. Swan) provide clear explanations and exercises on phrasal verbs and collocations. These are good books to have in your personal English library.
• LEARN OVER TIME: Be selective with your choice of collocations and phrasal verbs. Only learn expressions that you are likely to use regularly when speaking, reading and writing in English. Learn a few new combinations each week and build your vocabulary over time for the best results.
• ASK A NATIVE: Not sure whether to use ‘make’ or ‘do’? Not clear on the meaning of a collocation or phrasal verb? Try asking a native speaker for assistance! This could be your English teacher, a friend or a member of an ESL group on Facebook.
• CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES: If you want to improve your fluency in English, then you need to become your own best critic! This means analysing your errors and asking questions about why your English is sometimes wrong. Whenever you make a mistake, write it down, find the correct form and make an effort to learn it!

Exercises to help you practise with ‘make’ and ‘do’

Perfect-English-Grammar.com has four sets of multiple choice exercises dedicated to the differences between ‘make’ and ‘do’. Well worth a look!

BBC Learning English has some basic explanations, followed by a multiple choice list of short exercises to help you test your understanding of make vs. do.

Cambridge English has an interesting interactive set of exercises. These ask you to select ‘make’ or ‘do’ for each example. The correct answer is then displayed.

BusinessEnglishResources.com has a wide range of free materials on topics related to business English. These include one page of exercises on the difference between ‘make’ and ‘do’ in a work context.

Alex Jude is the Founder & CEO of Online Teachers UK. He holds a BA hons degree in Linguistics from The University of Manchester and is a life-long English teacher. Following graduation, he spent 2002-2012 living and teaching in Russia, where he lectured in General Linguistics and Translation Studies. Alex is a fluent Russian speaker and worked with the BBC at the World Cup in 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys camping/bushcraft, playing guitar and watching rugby league.

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of presentation in English

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presentation noun ( EVENT )

• talk She will give a talk on keeping kids safe on the internet.
• lecture The lecture is entitled "War and the Modern American Presidency".
• presentation We were given a presentation of progress made to date.
• speech You might have to make a speech when you accept the award.
• address He took the oath of office then delivered his inaugural address.
• oration It was to become one of the most famous orations in American history.
• The presentation was a collaborative effort by all the children in the class .
• The charity invited the press to a presentation of its plans for the future .
• The magazine asked its readers to send in their comments about the new style of presentation.
• Jenny's retiring and I think there's going to be a small presentation this afternoon .
• Graduates must be in full academic dress at the presentation of certificates .
• call for papers
• extemporize
• maiden speech
• talk at someone

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

presentation noun ( APPEARANCE )

• adverse conditions
• good/bad karma idiom
• have it in you idiom
• unaffiliated
• undercurrent

presentation | American Dictionary

Presentation | business english, examples of presentation, collocations with presentation, presentation.

These are words often used in combination with presentation .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of presentation

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Word of the Day

balancing act

a difficult situation in which someone has to try to give equal amounts of importance, time, attention, etc. to two or more different things at the same time

Binding, nailing, and gluing: talking about fastening things together

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AI presentation maker

When lack of inspiration or time constraints are something you’re worried about, it’s a good idea to seek help. Slidesgo comes to the rescue with its latest functionality—the AI presentation maker! With a few clicks, you’ll have wonderful slideshows that suit your own needs . And it’s totally free!

Generate presentations in minutes

We humans make the world move, but we need to sleep, rest and so on. What if there were someone available 24/7 for you? It’s time to get out of your comfort zone and ask the AI presentation maker to give you a hand. The possibilities are endless : you choose the topic, the tone and the style, and the AI will do the rest. Now we’re talking!

Customize your AI-generated presentation online

Alright, your robotic pal has generated a presentation for you. But, for the time being, AIs can’t read minds, so it’s likely that you’ll want to modify the slides. Please do! We didn’t forget about those time constraints you’re facing, so thanks to the editing tools provided by one of our sister projects —shoutouts to Wepik — you can make changes on the fly without resorting to other programs or software. Add text, choose your own colors, rearrange elements, it’s up to you! Oh, and since we are a big family, you’ll be able to access many resources from big names, that is, Freepik and Flaticon . That means having a lot of images and icons at your disposal!

How does it work?

Think of your topic.

First things first, you’ll be talking about something in particular, right? A business meeting, a new medical breakthrough, the weather, your favorite songs, a basketball game, a pink elephant you saw last Sunday—you name it. Just type it out and let the AI know what the topic is.

Choose your preferred style and tone

They say that variety is the spice of life. That’s why we let you choose between different design styles, including doodle, simple, abstract, geometric, and elegant . What about the tone? Several of them: fun, creative, casual, professional, and formal. Each one will give you something unique, so which way of impressing your audience will it be this time? Mix and match!

Make any desired changes

You’ve got freshly generated slides. Oh, you wish they were in a different color? That text box would look better if it were placed on the right side? Run the online editor and use the tools to have the slides exactly your way.

Download the final result for free

Yes, just as envisioned those slides deserve to be on your storage device at once! You can export the presentation in .pdf format and download it for free . Can’t wait to show it to your best friend because you think they will love it? Generate a shareable link!

What is an AI-generated presentation?

It’s exactly “what it says on the cover”. AIs, or artificial intelligences, are in constant evolution, and they are now able to generate presentations in a short time, based on inputs from the user. This technology allows you to get a satisfactory presentation much faster by doing a big chunk of the work.

Can I customize the presentation generated by the AI?

Of course! That’s the point! Slidesgo is all for customization since day one, so you’ll be able to make any changes to presentations generated by the AI. We humans are irreplaceable, after all! Thanks to the online editor, you can do whatever modifications you may need, without having to install any software. Colors, text, images, icons, placement, the final decision concerning all of the elements is up to you.

Can I add my own images?

Absolutely. That’s a basic function, and we made sure to have it available. Would it make sense to have a portfolio template generated by an AI without a single picture of your own work? In any case, we also offer the possibility of asking the AI to generate images for you via prompts. Additionally, you can also check out the integrated gallery of images from Freepik and use them. If making an impression is your goal, you’ll have an easy time!

Is this new functionality free? As in “free of charge”? Do you mean it?

Yes, it is, and we mean it. We even asked our buddies at Wepik, who are the ones hosting this AI presentation maker, and they told us “yup, it’s on the house”.

Are there more presentation designs available?

From time to time, we’ll be adding more designs. The cool thing is that you’ll have at your disposal a lot of content from Freepik and Flaticon when using the AI presentation maker. Oh, and just as a reminder, if you feel like you want to do things yourself and don’t want to rely on an AI, you’re on Slidesgo, the leading website when it comes to presentation templates. We have thousands of them, and counting!.

How can I download my presentation?

The easiest way is to click on “Download” to get your presentation in .pdf format. But there are other options! You can click on “Present” to enter the presenter view and start presenting right away! There’s also the “Share” option, which gives you a shareable link. This way, any friend, relative, colleague—anyone, really—will be able to access your presentation in a moment.

Discover more content

This is just the beginning! Slidesgo has thousands of customizable templates for Google Slides and PowerPoint. Our designers have created them with much care and love, and the variety of topics, themes and styles is, how to put it, immense! We also have a blog, in which we post articles for those who want to find inspiration or need to learn a bit more about Google Slides or PowerPoint. Do you have kids? We’ve got a section dedicated to printable coloring pages! Have a look around and make the most of our site!

5 Better Alternatives To Google Slides

I f you're looking to create a compelling presentation to showcase a new idea or persuade others, Google Slides may be the first option that comes to mind. But with few built-in templates, basic themes, and a limited graphics collection, you'll likely have a hard time making your presentation stand out against others.

If you want to make your presentation truly stand out, there are several alternatives to Google Slides that offer extra perks and features to give your presentations an edge. While Google focuses on integrating Slides with its other work-based apps like Sheets and Docs, other presentation apps focus more on design elements, transitions, and themes to help you convey your brand or personal image throughout your presentation.

We've tested these Google Slide alternatives to give you an idea of other available options to deliver impactful presentations. If you're looking for a way to make boring information more fun and engaging, here are the best presentation apps to replace Google Slides.

Read more: Major Graphics Card Brands Ranked Worst To Best

Microsoft PowerPoint

There's a reason so many businesses around the globe use Microsoft PowerPoint. Building its reputation as the go-to option for delivering high-quality presentations, the software generated $100 million in annual sales only three years after its initial release in 1990.

Microsoft PowerPoint may be Google Slides' largest competitor, but there are plenty of unique features that can add an extra flourish to your slides. PowerPoint excels in its impressive library of custom animations and slide transitions, which are fairly limited in Google Slides. Another unique feature is its AI-powered Designer tool. This provides professional design schemes that mirror the words used in your slides. For instance, if your title slide is named "Basketball Team 2024," Designer will automatically suggest pictures and slide layouts associated with basketball.

As PowerPoint has been in development longer than Google Slides, it naturally offers more nuanced features if you're looking for something specific. For example, you can save individual slides as an image file (using .png or .jpeg formats) or as a separate presentation file. There's also a large library of free PowerPoint templates designed to speed up your workflow. Moreover, PowerPoint integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams with its PowerPoint Live function, allowing you to easily share your presentation with your co-workers.

Prezi offers an innovative approach to showing presentations with its unique canvas feature. Unlike traditional presentation software, Prezi lets you zoom and pan around a flexible canvas. The canvas may feel distant to something of a presentation program, but there is still some linear order provided thanks to the Timeline view.

Finding ways to visualize data is one of the biggest challenges when dealing with presentation software. Prezi resolves this struggle with the help of its Story Blocks: a series of infographics available in multiple designs to visually represent data. You can easily edit infographics and even add animations to individual shapes. This can help add a story to your presentation and help you emphasize key points.

To further enhance your presentation visually, Prezi offers several topic path settings, which let you change how Prezi transitions from one topic to another. These options include subtopics, which are super helpful for breaking large chunks of information down. If you're looking for a unique, modern approach to presenting information, Prezi is a top pick.

If you're looking to create a professional presentation to convince potential clients about your business idea, Slidebean is a popular choice among professionals with plenty of customization options. One of the issues with Google Slides is its fairly limited template library, which is filled mostly with basic designs. Slidebean offers a better alternative with a broad selection of innovative templates split into categories for convenience.

The app's user interface is easy to navigate so that you can create slides in less time. Each slide has a dedicated Design and Outline tab. You can use the Outline tab to quickly edit the information on each slide without being distracted by all the visual elements. Another productivity-enhancing feature is the ability to generate a presentation theme from your website. Simply enter your URL, and Slidebean will automatically apply the theming to your presentation.

Slidebean is another presentation app to take advantage of AI. Using the Auto-Design feature, you can generate recommended slide layouts based on your existing content. It also features AI text suggestions designed to suit different industries. Overall, Slidebean offers a quicker, more efficient method for creating stunning presentations compared to Google Slides.

Canva is a well-known app among graphic designers, but it's also capable of making stunning presentations. The app also has mobile editions, so you can easily create and edit presentations on your Android phone , iOS device, or tablet. As long as you have an internet connection, you can modify your designs wherever you are.

To get started, head to Canva's online presentation maker . Canva offers a vast range of templates categorized by topic, which easily surpasses the simple templates in Google Slides . While some of the templates are only available to Canva Pro members, there is an ample amount of free templates to help you get started. You'll also find a large selection of stock photos, shapes, and illustrations to create beautiful customized slides.

Because Canva is built for graphic designers, you can access several features to give your presentation consistent theming. These include color palettes, font sets, and even a brand kit that allows you to add your company's fonts (available to Pro members only). One time-saving feature is Canva's Uploads tab, which lets you access recently uploaded media files. This offers a convenient way to copy content between different presentations.

Visme is a powerful visual design tool able to create videos, infographics, and presentations. One of the perks of using Visme is the company's free educational content, which offers advice on how to create impactful content to boost your brand. After signing up, the company also asks whether you're using Visme for your business, education purposes, or personal use to offer personalized tips.

In terms of charts and graphs, Visme offers some of the most impressive features we've seen from a presentation app, so you can effortlessly convey important statistics. From the Data tab, you can access dozens of graph styles to visually represent your data. Then, simply double-click a chart inside your presentation to edit the values instantly in a simple table format.

Another area that Visme excels in is collaboration. You can either generate a link to publish your presentation on the web or share your presentation privately with others. For each team member, you can choose who can view, edit, and comment slides for a seamless workflow. There's also a Slack integration that lets you receive messages whenever changes are made to your presentation. Visme is free for all users, with limited features available in its premium plans.

Read the original article on SlashGear .

Movie theaters make plea for more films, rail against piracy at CinemaCon 2024

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Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like CinemaCon — where no matter how many hits the motion picture industry has taken over the last year (and, uh, it’s taken a lot ), exhibitors from all over the world unfailingly come together to exude enthusiasm about the moviegoing experience and optimism about the future of cinema .

Flag bearers for the Motion Picture Assn., the National Assn. of Theatre Owners and other major industry players convened Tuesday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to deliver their annual state-of-the-business address and officially kick off the event. Movie stars, filmmakers and studio heads are expected to tease, extol and in some cases screen their upcoming releases.

There’s a lot riding on those movies in the wake of a box office slump partially brought on by the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes, which delayed several movies and effectively halted film and TV production last year for about six months.

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Movies are back? At CinemaCon, theater owners and studios will make the case

CinemaCon, the annual film industry conference in Las Vegas, is set to rally support for theaters amid a thin 2024 box office slate.

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“We can’t shy away from the stark challenges of this moment, nor can we ignore this time of volatility in our industry,” said Charles Rivkin, chief executive of the MPA, during Tuesday’s presentation. Washington-based MPA represents the Hollywood studios, including Disney and Netflix.

“Yet no one should fear that uncertainty,” he added, “because after all, we work in a business where unexpected twists can make for an epic story. ... We understand the stakes. We recognize the need to do everything possible to ensure the enduring health of cinema.”

Global box office revenue is predicted to hit $32 billion in 2024, according to film analytics firm Gower Street, which is nowhere near the $40-billion-plus heights of the pre-COVID-19 era. But since the beginning of 2024 — when domestic box office revenue was down 20% from the previous year — some glimmers of hope have emerged.

In March, the highly anticipated sequel to Warner Bros.’ “Dune” launched at $82.5 million in the United States and Canada — the first true blockbuster opening weekend since AMC Theatres’ “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” ($93.2 million).

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Following the desperately needed success of “Dune: Part Two” — which has now grossed more than $255 million domestically — Universal Pictures’ “Kung Fu Panda 4” notched a solid $58-million domestic debut, Sony Pictures’ “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” posted a decent $45 million and Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” drew an impressive $80-million bow.

Exhibitors on Tuesday also touted the rising popularity of Japanese cinema in the United States, including Crunchyroll-distributed anime hits such as the latest “Demon Slayer” movie and Toho Co.‘s Oscar-winning “Godzilla Minus One.”

Mitchel Berger, senior vice president of global commerce at Crunchyroll, said Tuesday that the global anime business generated $14 billion a decade ago and is projected to generate $37 billion next year.

“Anime is red hot right now,” Berger said.

“Fans have known about it for years, but now everyone else is catching up and recognizing that it’s a cultural, economic force to be reckoned with.”

Box office outlook for 2024: Lowered expectations, but don’t count out wild cards

The box office in 2024 is expected to come in at around $8 billion in the U.S. and Canada, or $1 billion lower than last year. But movies themselves can still be healthy.

Jan. 3, 2024

Exhibitors are hoping that momentum holds despite also weathering several recent box office disappointments, such as Universal Pictures’ misbegotten spy thriller “Argylle” and Sony Pictures’ superhero disaster “Madame Web.”

When the actors’ strike concluded in November, theater operators expressed concerns about the health of the 2024 film slate. The overlapping work stoppages prompted studios to push at least a dozen movies to 2025 from 2024, including the eighth installment in Paramount Pictures’ “Mission: Impossible” saga and Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White.”

Cinemark Chief Executive Sean Gamble estimated in February that 95 pictures were slated to open this year in wide release, as opposed to 110 in 2023. And nothing spells danger for exhibitors like a thinned-out release schedule. It doesn’t help that the average length of the theatrical window significantly shrank (from 90 days to roughly 35 to 40 days) after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down movie theaters for more than a year.

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At Tuesday’s presentation, exhibitors pleaded with distributors to take a leap of faith and commit to releasing movies in cinemas year-round — not just during times that have historically seen heavier foot traffic.

“For my friends in distribution, please embrace digital’s flexibility and offer your awe-inspiring movies 52 weeks of the year to every exhibitor,” said Chris Johnson, CEO of Classic Cinemas. “Eliminate print counts and trust us to make programming and scheduling decisions that yield the best results for all. ... If you have a hit, we will hold it.”

Michael O’Leary, CEO of the National Assn. of Theatre Owners, also made the case for more small- and medium-budget releases that attract cinephiles, citing prestige titles such as A24’s “Past Lives” and Amazon MGM Studios’ “American Fiction.”

“It’s not enough for us to simply sit back and want more movies,” O’Leary said. “We must work with distribution to get more movies of all sizes to the marketplace.”

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This year, a number of potential upcoming blockbusters remain.

Universal is cooking up “Twisters,” “Wicked” and “Despicable Me 4”; Warner Bros. is sitting on “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Joker: Folie à Deux” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”; Paramount is distributing “Gladiator 2” and “A Quiet Place: Day One”; Sony is launching “Venom: The Last Dance”; Disney is set to release “Inside Out 2,” “Moana 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine”; and Amazon MGM Studios is about to drop “Challengers,” starring Zendaya.

The last few years at CinemaCon have drawn battle lines between exhibitors and streamers. During the streaming wars of 2021 and 2022, studios threw an excessive amount of resources and funds at streaming projects in an effort to compete with Netflix.

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At the time, streaming was painted as theaters’ archnemesis. But the great streaming boom of the early 2020s has subsided as entertainment companies — reeling from financial losses — are tightening their belts and greenlighting less streaming content.

In December, Disney unveiled plans to re-release three Pixar titles — “Soul,” “Turning Red” and “Luca” — in theaters this year after initially routing them directly to streaming. Additionally, “Moana 2” — originally conceived as a TV series to be streamed on Disney+ — was reworked into a feature coming to the big screen in November.

Though streaming undoubtedly still poses a threat to movie theaters, the tides appear to be turning ever so slightly in exhibitors’ favor as studios rethink their release strategies and film fanatics continue to splurge on Imax and other premium large formats.

“You can watch a movie on TV or on your tablet or on your computer, but you experience it in a theater,” O’Leary said. “And part of what makes the movie so special is the theaters themselves.”

Report: Online piracy remains multi-hundred-million-dollar business

Online piracy continues to thrive amid a rise in streaming websites, according to a report released Tuesday by Internet safety organization Digital Citizens Alliance and consulting firm MediaLink.

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However, exhibitors at CinemaCon did repeatedly express concerns about the rise of illegal streaming and digital piracy. Rivkin condemned the practice as “insidious forms of theft” that harm production workers, actors, directors, writers, craftspeople and even consumers who risk falling prey to malware viruses when watching movies illegally online.

Rivkin estimated that on average, piracy costs the movie theater industry more than $1 billion per year. During his state-of-the-industry address, he called on Congress to enact site-blocking legislation that would prevent internet users in the United States from accessing websites that stream films illegally.

“Piracy operations have only grown more nimble, more advanced and more elusive every day,” Rivkin said. “These activities are nefarious by any definition. They’re detrimental to our industry by any standard. And they’re dangerous for the rights of creators and consumers by any measure.”

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Inside the business of entertainment

The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.

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Christi Carras reports on the entertainment industry for the Los Angeles Times. She previously covered entertainment news for The Times after graduating from UCLA and working at Variety, the Hollywood Reporter and CNN Newsource.

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Cries of Sexism Greet a Nike Olympic Reveal

The sporting giant offered a sneak peek at its track and field outfits for Team U.S.A., and an unexpected backlash ensued.

By Vanessa Friedman

Ever since the Norwegian women’s beach handball team turned the fact that they were required to wear teeny-tiny bikini bottoms for competition into a cause célèbre, a quiet revolution has been brewing throughout women’s sports. It’s one that questions received conventions about what female athletes do — or don’t — have to wear to perform at their very best.

It has touched women’s soccer (why white shorts?), gymnastics (why not a unitard rather than a leotard?), field hockey (why a low-cut tank top?) and many more, including running.

So it probably should not have come as a shock to Nike that when it offered a sneak peek of the Team U.S.A. track and field unies during a Nike Air event in Paris celebrating its Air technology on Thursday (which also included looks for other Olympic athletes, like Kenya’s track and field team, France’s basketball team and Korea’s break dancing delegation), they were met with some less-than-enthusiastic reactions.

See, the two uniforms Nike chose to single out on the mannequins included a men’s compression tank top and mid-thigh-length compression shorts and a woman’s bodysuit, cut notably high on the hip. It looked sort of like a sporty version of a 1980s workout leotard. As it was displayed, the bodysuit seemed as if it would demand some complicated intimate grooming.

Citius Mag , which focuses on running news, posted a photo of the uniforms on Instagram, and many of its followers were not amused.

“What man designed the woman’s cut?” wrote one.

“I hope U.S.A.T.F. is paying for the bikini waxes,” wrote another. So went most of the more than 1,900 comments.

The running comedian Laura Green posted an Instagram reel in which she pretended to be trying on the look (“We’re feeling pretty, um, breezy,” she said) and checking out the rest of the athlete’s kit bag, which turned out to include hair spray, lip gloss and a “hysterectomy kit,” so the women would not have to worry about periods.

When asked, Nike did not address the brouhaha directly, but according to John Hoke, the chief innovation officer, the woman’s bodysuit and the man’s shorts and top are only two of the options Nike will have for its Olympic runners. There are “nearly 50 unique pieces across men’s and women’s and a dozen competition styles fine-tuned for specific events,” Mr. Hoke said.

Women will be able to opt for compression shorts, a crop top or tank and a bodysuit with shorts rather than bikini bottoms. The full slate of looks was not on hand in Paris but more will be revealed next week at the U.S. Olympic Committee media summit in New York. The Paris reveal was meant to be a teaser.

Mr. Hoke also pointed out that Nike consults with a large number of athletes at every stage of the uniform design. Its track and field roster includes Sha’Carri Richardson, who happened to be wearing the compression shorts during the Paris presentation, and Athing Mu. And there are certainly runners who like the high-cut brief. (The British Olympic sprinter Dina Asher-Smith , another Nike athlete, told The New York Times last summer that while she opts to run in briefs, she also leans toward a leotard style, rather than a two-piece.)

What Nike missed, however, was that in choosing those two looks as the primary preview for Team U.S.A., rather than, say, the matching shorts and tanks that will be also available, it shored up a longstanding inequity in sports — one that puts the body of a female athlete on display in a way it does not for the male athlete.

“Why are we presenting this sexualized outfit as the standard of excellence?” said Lauren Fleshman, a U.S. national champion distance runner and the author of “Good for a Girl.” “In part because we think that’s what nets us the most financial gain from sponsors or NIL opportunities, most of which are handed out by powerful men or people looking at it through a male gaze. But women are breaking records with ratings in sports where you don’t have to wear essentially a bathing suit to perform.”

The problem such imagery creates is twofold. When Nike chose to reveal the high-cut bodysuit as the first Olympics outfit, purposefully or not, the implication for anyone watching is that “this is what excellence looks like,” Ms. Fleshman said.

That perception filters down to young athletes and becomes the model girls think they have to adopt, often at a developmental stage when their relationships with their bodies are particularly fraught.

And more broadly, given the current political debate around adjudicating women’s bodies, it reinforces the idea that they are public property.

Still, Ms. Fleshman said, “I’m glad Nike put this image out as the crown jewel of Olympic Team design,” because it may act as the catalyst for another conversation that has been long overdue.

“If you showed this outfit to someone from the W.N.B.A. or women’s soccer, they would laugh in your face,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to normalize it for track and field anymore. Time’s up on that.”

Vanessa Friedman has been the fashion director and chief fashion critic for The Times since 2014. More about Vanessa Friedman

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