Make noise means to produce loud or unwanted sounds. Make a noise is more often about one particular sound: The door makes a noise when you open it. But in British English, people also use the article when asking someone to be quiet: Try not to make a noise. Figuratively, make (a lot of) noise about something means to complain loudly and publicly.
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make noise; make a lot of noise; make a strange/loud noise; make (a lot of) noise about + problem
- Please try not to make noise after eleven; the neighbours have a newborn baby.
- My laptop makes a strange noise when I open too many programs.
- Customers made a lot of noise about the new fees, and the bank changed its policy.
What changed
First versionPlease don't noise; the baby is sleeping.
RevisionPlease don't make noise; the baby is sleeping.
It is tempting to use noise as a verb, but in the sense of being noisy it is only a noun. To describe the action, use make noise, and to ask for quiet, there is an even simpler option: Please be quiet.
Noise is a sound that disturbs or surprises you; sound is any sound, including a pleasant one. You would talk about the sound of the waves by the sea, but the noise from the building site outside your window. That is why make noise is almost always about bothering other people.
Your turn
The builders next door ___ so much noise that I couldn't work from home.
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made — Noise goes only with make: made so much noise. Did so much noise is not English: do is for tasks and work, while noise and sounds are made.
Write a polite note to a neighbour about noise. Say exactly when it is noisy and what you are asking for.
Hi, it's Dima from flat 12. Could you make less noise after 11 p.m.? The music keeps me awake on weeknights.
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