make a fool of

Idioms  

1. Also,. 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.

---

Example Sentences

So, when I let them down like this and when I make a fool of myself in a moment like today, yeah, I have a lot of regret.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2025

O’Brien’s “Late Night” was in the Letterman vein, though more kinetic, more surreal, more disturbing, with the host ever ready to make a fool of himself.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2024

Also, a way to make a fool of himself for no reason at all.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2023

“I’d rather make a fool of myself in front of two people for nothing than a thousand people who paid for a ticket,” he told the AP.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 24, 2021

I knew it was silly, but they flattered me and said I was a beauty, and quantities of nonsense, so I let them make a fool of me.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• confuse
• crush
• degrade
• demean
• depress
• disgrace
• humble
• shame
• snub
• subdue