makes 18

[ngamary]

Dear Teachers and friends,

a. He’s been threatening to leave home for a bout a year now, when he makes 18 years old.
- “makes” here means “is”, right? And is it common?

b. It doesn’t seem like anything I say will change his mind and to top it off a counselor at his high school encouraged him to quit.
- “to top it off” here means “to find”, right?

Thanks a million

Ngamary

[Mister Micawber]

.
When he makes 18 years old = when he attains to 18 years of age. This is an unusual use of make in this context; the implication is that it takes some effort to reach that age.

Top off: a.to climax or complete, esp. in an exceptional manner; finish: 'They topped off the evening with a ferryboat ride at midnight'.