What is the origin of the idiom "make a monkey of" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "make a monkey of" can be traced back to British slang from the 19th century. The phrase likely evolved from earlier expressions such as "make a jackass of" or "make a fool of," which were used to describe situations where someone embarrassed or humiliated another person. This phrase is used to describe the act of embarrassing or ridiculing someone by making them appear foolish, typically through practical jokes, deceit, or trickery.