make a monkey out of
make a monkey (out) of (someone or oneself)
To do something that makes someone (or oneself) seem stupid or ridiculous. I know Greg is only trying to impress Lisa, but he's making a monkey out of himself by telling so many corny jokes. I'm not going to dance too much at the party because I don't want to make a monkey out of myself in front of my coworkers.
See also: make, monkey, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
make a monkey out of
see under make a fool of.
See also: make, monkey, of, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- make a monkey (out) of (someone or oneself)
- make a monkey of someone
- impress (something) into (something)
- impress into
- knock (one) cold
- knock cold
- a somebody
- knock the socks off
- knock the socks off (someone or something)
- knock the socks off someone