[make] a monkey (out|) of {sb} - Definition & Meaning

to do something that makes a person appear foolish in front of othersto do something that makes a person appear foolish in front of others

The origin of the idiom "make a monkey of" can be traced back to British slang from the 19th century. The phrase likely evolved from earlier expressions such as "make a jackass of" or "make a fool of," which were used to describe situations where someone embarrassed or humiliated another person. This phrase is used to describe the act of embarrassing or ridiculing someone by making them appear foolish, typically through practical jokes, deceit, or trickery.The origin of the idiom "make a monkey of" can be traced back to British slang from the 19th century. The phrase likely evolved from earlier expressions such as "make a jackass of" or "make a fool of," which were used to describe situations where someone embarrassed or humiliated another person. This phrase is used to describe the act of embarrassing or ridiculing someone by making them appear foolish, typically through practical jokes, deceit, or trickery.

Examples