From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmake up to somebody phrasal verb1 make (it) up to somebody to do something to show that you are sorry about the problems you have caused someone I’ll make it up to you somehow. He was looking for a way to make up to her for what he had done.2 FRIENDLY British English informal to say nice things to someone or be very friendly to them in order to get an advantage for yourself – used to show disapproval3 be made up to captain/manager etc to be given a higher position in an organization SYN promote He was a security guard before he was made up to reception manager. → make→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
make (it) up to somebody• In California, people making up to $ 40,000 a year qualify for help.• For example, a 70 year old person living alone would have their income made up to £53.40 a week.• The company stands to make up to £7m in fees if it offloads the Dome quickly.• He would make it up to him, the rector thought.• Not so much eating it, really, as making up to it. 