do a house—tidy or clean the house:
- One day I did the house thoroughly, totally, and my Dad’s closet was really messy, so I tidied it.
Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase do up a house—repair or improve the house:
- It was really worth the pain we took to do up the house. On the advise of our agent we renovated the house and gave it a fine look.
make a house—(Parliament) secure the presence of enough members for a quorum (also: keep a house):
- Yesterday, after many days waiting, sufficient number of members met and made a house.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make a home—
1. establish or run a home:
- He asked her how big her roll was, saying that it cost something to make a home.
2. (also: make one’s home) settle in a place (with one’s family):
- She has made a home in the Bay Area, where she now teaches Italian cooking and language.