make a fool of

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Also, make an ass or monkey out of. Cause someone or oneself to look foolish or stupid. For example, John doesn't mind making a fool of himself at parties, or They made an ass of me by giving me the wrong instructions, or Just watch him make a monkey out of this amateur chess player. The use of fool and ass date from the early 1600s; the latter is sometimes put more rudely as make a horse's ass of, alluding to a horse's behind. The use of monkey dates from about 1900.

Words nearby make a fool of

make a day of it, make a dent in, make a difference, make a face, make a federal case of, make a fool of, make a fortune, make a fuss, make a go of, make a hash of, make a hit

Words related to make a fool of

taunt, scoff, lampoon, deride, scorn, mock, humiliate, spoof, parody, depress, disgrace, subdue, humble, confuse, crush, shame, demean, degrade, snub, rag