1
general::
Phrase(s): make a fool (out) of someone [and] make a monkey (out) of someone
to make someone look foolish. • John made a monkey out of himself while trying to make a fool out of Jim. • John made a fool out of himself at the party. • Are you trying to make a monkey out of me?
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
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.
American Heritage Idioms