I've seen a few sample interview questions around the place which ask you to make a market on some expected outcome. For example: "I make a stack of quarters which stretches to the height of the empire state building. If I took those coins and put them in this office, make me a market in what percentage of the room would be taken up." What does "make me a market" mean here? Do you just take the estimate and then widen it to give a bid/offer? In which case, how would you decide how much to widen it?
arabianights
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Remember it'll be a tiny percentage of the room too, that's only about 100 stacks of quarters in 10 ft tall room, so you can just quote 0-1 
Making a market is to give a price (both ways) on a particular item of which the outcome is variable.
The obvious example is shares. A market maker will make a market by being willing to buy or sell a particular share.
A novel; idea was in peoples ages. Someone would say "Hi George, not retired yet, how old are you?" The reply might be 45-50. If the other person thought he was a lot older (say nearer 60) he would reply with "buy 10 (thousand), what are you making now?" If George has been rumbled he is in a tricky position. He cannot quote more than 50 on the bid and it is risky to offer more stock below his real age. He could quote 48-62 but would probably, quite reasonbly, be asked for a tighter spread.
It is a good exercise for budding jobbers!
Another expression for making a market is running a book
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