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What is "to make a fool of"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To make a fool of

Fool \Fool\, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. Folly, Follicle.]

  1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.

  2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt.

    Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools.
    --Milton.

    Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
    --Franklin.

  3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person.

    The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
    --Ps. xiv. 1.

  4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments.

    Can they think me . . . their fool or jester?
    --Milton.

    April fool, Court fool, etc. See under April, Court, etc.

    Fool's cap, a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters.

    Fool's errand, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or undertaking.

    Fool's gold, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color.

    Fool's paradise, a name applied to a limbo (see under Limbo) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.

    Fool's parsley (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant ( [AE]thusa Cynapium) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.

    To make a fool of, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloq.]

    To play the fool, to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. ``I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.''
    --1 Sam. xxvi. 21.

Usage examples of "to make a fool of".

If he will go trying to make a fool of justice, not owning up to the murder, he may wish that he had!

More likely nothing at all would happen and he was going to make a fool of himself.

I knew that as well as anyone, but there are times when a scientist must not be afraid to make a fool of himself.

Let them lead you around quietly until you know enough not to make a fool of yourself.

She looked ghastly pale in the light of the lamp, but so lovely that my rebellious heart threatened already, to make a fool of me.