make a, no, some, etc. difference

make a difference

1. To have some effect on something; to cause a change. Will it make a difference if I add the salt before or after I heat up the soup? I don't think it will make a difference if we're five minutes late.
2. To have an impact, especially in a positive way. Graduates, you can make a difference in this world. You can reshape the future! He probably doesn't know it, but his kindness to us as kids really made a difference.
See also: difference, make
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

make a, no, some, etc. ˈdifference (to/in somebody/something)

have an effect/no effect on somebody/something: The rain didn’t make much difference to the game. Your age shouldn’t make any difference to whether you get the job or not. Changing schools made a big difference to my life.
See also: difference, make
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • make a difference
  • make no difference
  • in the soup
  • be in the soup
  • salt (something) with (something)
  • salt with
  • thicken up
  • salt down
  • salt (something) down
  • dog('s) soup