make a fist of

Meaning: To accomplish something with reasonable competence or success.

Example: “For someone who had never cooked before, he made a good fist of Sunday dinner.”

Origin: The phrase pictures clenching one's hand into a fist—a gesture of determination or readiness to tackle a task.

More English idioms

tilt at windmills To waste effort fighting against imaginary enemies or pursuing hopeless causes.
welcome to my world You are now experiencing something unpleasant that the speaker knows well and has dealt w…
one is a poet and doesn't know it Someone has unintentionally created a rhyme or spoken in verse without realizing it.
hash slinger A cook or server in a cheap restaurant, often regarded as rude or inattentive.
built different Uniquely talented or operating by a different standard than ordinary people.
turn up the heat To make a situation more intense, uncomfortable, or urgent.

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