这个短语是由make sb.to do sth省略to得来的.make,let等使役动词,以及感官动词后面接动词不定式作宾语补足语时都要省略to.
但这种句子如果变成被动语态,则又要补上to.如：
We made the little boy laugh.----The little boy was made to laugh.
We observed the little boy laugh.----The little boy was observed to laugh.(observe：注意到.是感官动词）例如make me laugh.laugh是宾语补足语吗？也就是说是make me to laugh省略to，是吗？make me laugh.laugh是宾语补足语。勉强可以说是make me to laugh省略to，为什么说是勉强呢？因为make sb. do sth.这种结构从来没有出现过有to的情况，但这个do确实是不带to的动词不定式。