ENGLISH
REFERENCE

make an ass of

idiom
Meaning

To cause (someone) to appear foolish.


Examples
SIMPLE

Don't make an ass of yourself at the party tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

He drank too much at the dinner and managed to make an ass of himself in front of his boss.

COMPLEX

By insisting on his expertise despite knowing nothing about the topic, he inadvertently made an ass of himself before the entire committee.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    absence makes the heart grow fonder

    One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

  2. 02

    ass over teakettle

    Tumbling upside down.

  3. 03

    beat someone's ass

    To thrash someone.

  4. 04

    bite my ass

    Go away!; an expression of disdain or dismissal.

  5. 05

    bite my shiny metal ass

    An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.

  6. 06

    bust ass

    To work hard, especially when trying to achieve a goal.

  7. 07

    cannot make it

    Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.

  8. 08

    cover someone's ass

    To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that a person is not blamed or punished for his or her conduct.

Last updated April 17, 2026