MAKE = creating, producing, causing (make a cake, make a noise) DO = actions, tasks, work, activities (do homework, do the dishes)
Quick Comparison Table
MAKE
DO
make a decision
do homework
make a mistake
do business
make an effort
do a favor
make progress
do the dishes
make a promise
do your best
make money
do exercise
make a phone call
do research
make a noise
do nothing
📌 Common Make Collocations
make a decision, make a mistake, make an effort, make progress, make a promise, make a phone call, make a plan, make a choice, make a difference, make a noise, make money, make a profit, make a loss, make a deal, make an appointment, make breakfast, make a suggestion, make a complaint, make an excuse, make a guess
📌 Common Do Collocations
do homework, do business, do damage, do a favor, do the dishes, do the laundry, do your best, do nothing, do well, do exercise, do research, do a job, do the shopping, do the cleaning, do the cooking, do a course, do a test, do the ironing, do the gardening, do your duty
💡 Exception: "Make" and "do" can sometimes be tricky. When in doubt, check a collocations dictionary!