make like

Originally a US regionalism; compare earlier make as if.

make like (third-person singular simple present makes like, present participle making like, simple past and past participle made like)

1. (colloquial, chiefly US, with clause) To behave as though.
   • 2004 January 3, Hannah Pool, “The new black”, in The Guardian:

     Make like we're getting married and repeat after me, "2004 is the year I will moisturise daily".

2. (colloquial, chiefly US, with a noun) To behave in the manner of.
   • 1947 February 10, “The Great Salesman”, in Time:

     In his office is an eight-foot bull whip; Ed likes to snap it around and make like a slave-driver.

• make like a banana and split
• make like a tree and leave
• make like a baby and head out