Make a monkey out of someone
Meaning
To trick or embarrass someone, making them look foolish or ridiculous.
Origin
The phrase 'make a monkey out of someone' captures a vivid image rooted in centuries of human interaction with these primates. Monkeys have long been associated with mischief, imitation, and often, a comical lack of sophisticated reasoning, frequently featuring in circuses, street performances, and fables as figures of amusement or folly. When someone 'makes a monkey out of' another, they are reducing that person to a state of ridicule, tricking them or exposing their foolishness in a way that strips them of dignity, much like a performing monkey compelled to behave absurdly for an audience's entertainment. The phrase suggests a deliberate act of manipulation or humiliation, transforming a person from an intelligent individual into an object of derision.
Examples
- He tried to trick me into believing his outlandish story, but I wasn't going to let him make a monkey out of me.
- The politician's gaffe in front of the press truly made a monkey out of him, providing endless material for late-night comedians.