make a monkey out of someone
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 someone
ormake a monkey of someone
OLD-FASHIONEDIf someone makes a monkey out of you, or makes a monkey of you, they do something that makes you seem ridiculous or stupid. The teenage footballer made monkeys out of men twice his age with his spectacular goals. If you follow the proper steps, you won't make a monkey of yourself.
See also: make, monkey, of, out, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- 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