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[marked man]{n. phr.} A man whose behavior has made him the object of suspicion; a man whose life may be in danger. •/When Dave dared to criticize the dictator openly, he became a marked man./

[market] See: FLEA MARKET, IN THE MARKET FOR, ON THE MARKET, PLAY THE MARKET.

[mark off]{v. phr.} Mark with lines; lay out in sections. •/The field will be marked off in accordance with the special track events that will take place tomorrow./

[mark one’s words]{v. phr.} To pay close attention to what one says; an emphatic expression indicating prophecy. •/"It will certainly rain tomorrow," he said. "Mark my words."/

[mark time]{v. phr.} 1. To move the feet up and down as in marching, but not going forward. •/The officer made the soldiers mark time as a punishment./ 2. To be idle; waiting for something to happen. •/The teacher marked time until all the children were ready for the test./ 3. To seem to be working or doing something, but really not doing it. •/It was so hot that the workmen just marked time./

[marry money]{v. phr.} To marry a rich person. •/Ellen married money when she became Hal’s wife./

[masking tape]{n.} A paper tape that is stuck around the edges of a surface being painted to keep the paint off the surface next to it. •/The painters put masking tape around the window frames to keep the paint off the glass./

[masse] See: EN MASSE.

[mast] See: NAIL ONE’S COLORS TO THE MAST.

[master copy]{n.} 1. A perfect text to which all copies are made to conform; a corrected version used as a standard by printers. •/The master copy must be right, because if it isn’t, the mistakes in it will be repeated all through the edition./ 2. A stencil from which other copies are made. •/Mr. Brown told his secretary to save the master copy so that they could run off more copies whenever they needed them./ •/The master copy was too light so many of the copies didn’t come out clear./

[master key]{n. phr.} A key that opens a set of different locks. •/The building janitor has a master key to all of the apartments in this building./

[mastermind]{v.} To create; direct; invent the central plan for several individuals to follow. •/Lenin masterminded the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia./

[mastermind]{n.} A person who supplies the intelligence for a project and/or undertakes its management. •/Winston Churchill was the mastermind in the war against Hitler./

[master of ceremonies] or [M.C.] or [emcee]{n.} The person in charge of introducing the various participants in a show or entertainment. •/Bob Hope was the M.C. of many memorable shows./

[mat] See: WELCOME MAT IS OUT.

[matter] See: FOR THAT MATTER, LAUGHING MATTER, NO MATTER, THE MATTER.

[matter of course]{n. phr.} Something always done; the usual way; habit; rule. •/A was a matter of course for John to dress carefully when he was meeting his wife./ •/Bank officers ask questions as a matter of course when someone wants to borrow money./

[matter of fact]{n. phr.} Something that is really true; something that can be proved. •/The town records showed that it was a matter of fact that the two boys were brothers./ •/It is a matter of fact that the American war against England was successful./ — Often used for emphasis in the phrase "as a matter of fact". •/I didn’t go yesterday, and as a matter of fact, f didn’t go all week./ •/Mary wasn’t wearing a blue dress. As a matter of fact, she hasn’t got a blue dress./ Compare: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT. Contrast: MATTER OF OPINION.

[matter-of-fact]{adj.} 1. Simply telling or showing the truth; not explaining or telling more. •/The newspaper gave a matter-of-fact account of the murder trial./ 2. Showing little feeling or excitement or trouble; seeming not to care much. •/When Mary’s father died she acted in a very matter-of-fact way./ •/He was a very matter-of-fact person./

[matter of opinion]{n. phr.} Something that may or may not be true; something that people do not all agree on. •/Whether or not he was a good general is a matter of opinion./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.

[matter of record]{n. phr.} A fact or event that is kept officially as a legal record. •/If you are convicted of speeding it becomes a matter of record./ •/A birth certificate or a marriage license is a matter of record./

[may] See: BE THAT AS IT MAY, COME WHAT MAY, LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

[M.C.] or [emcee]{v.} To act as master of ceremonies at a show. •/The famous actor emceed the entire television show./

[me] See: DEAR ME, PICK-ME-UP, SO HELP ME.

[mean business]{v. phr.}, {informal} To decide strongly to do what you plan to do; really mean it; be serious. •/The boss said he would fire us if we didn’t work harder and he means business./ •/When she went to college to study, she meant business./ •/He just liked the company of the other girls he dated, but this time he seems to mean business./

[means] See: BY ALL MEANS, BY MEANS OF, BY NO MEANS, WAYS AND MEANS.

[means to an end]{n. phr.} An action leading to some end or purpose. •/Money for him was just a means to an end; actually he wanted power./

[mean well]{v. phr.} To have good intentions. •/Fred generally means well, but he has a tendency to be tactless./

[measure] See: BEYOND MEASURE, FOR GOOD MEASURE, MADE-TO-MEASURE, TAKE ONE’S MEASURE or TAKE THE MEASURE OF.