make a monkey out of
To cause a person, group, or action to appear foolish or inferior; to subject someone or something to ridicule.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't let him make a monkey out of you.”
“The politician tried to make a monkey out of his opponent during the live debate.”
“By presenting false evidence in front of the entire board, the manager effectively made a monkey out of his most experienced team members.”
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absence makes the heart grow fonder
One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.
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as clever as a cartload of monkeys
Very clever, cunning or mischievous.
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barrel of monkeys
Someone or something very amusing or funny, fun, mischievous, etc.
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brass monkey
Very cold.
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brass monkeys
Very cold.
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cannot make it
Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.
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cheeky monkey
An impudent person, usually a child.
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doctors make the worst patients
It is difficult to advise people on subjects that they are experts on.
Last updated August 10, 2026