Phrase guide

make an exhibition of oneself

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To embarrass oneself or others in public by behaving foolishly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, idiomatic

Examples

  • He tends to make an exhibition of himself at parties, trying to draw attention.
  • Stop making an exhibition of yourself and let others enjoy the moment.
  • She had far too much to drink and made an exhibition of herself by flirting with everyone.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: излагам се (izlagam se) — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Chinese Mandarin: 出洋相 (chū yángxiàng) — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Dutch: zichzelf voor gek zetten — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Finnish: munata itsensä — to embarrass oneself in public
  • French: se couvrir de ridicule — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Galician: montar un espectáculo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Galician: face-lo ridículo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Galician: poñerse en ridículo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Galician: pórse en ridículo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • German: sich zum Narren machen — to embarrass oneself in public
  • German: sich blamieren — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Hungarian: nevetségessé teszi magát — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Italian: rendersi ridicolo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Italian: dare spettacolo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Japanese: 恥をさらす (haji o sarasu) — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Polish: robić z siebie widowisko — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Polish: zrobić z siebie widowisko — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Portuguese: pagar mico — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Portuguese: dar vexame — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Russian: де́лать из себя́ посме́шище (délatʹ iz sebjá posméšišče) — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Russian: позо́риться (pozóritʹsja) — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Spanish: hacer el ridículo — to embarrass oneself in public
  • Swedish: göra bort sig — to embarrass oneself in public