make yourself understood

make (oneself) understood

To make others understand exactly what one is trying to convey. I want all of this cleaned up right now, or I'll take away your video games for the weekend. Have I made myself understood? I tried explaining the directions to the tourist, but my Japanese is so limited that I couldn't make myself understood.See also: make, understood

ˌmake yourself underˈstood

make your meaning clear, especially in another language: He doesn’t speak much Japanese but he can make himself understood.See also: make, understood