make a great show of

make a great show of (doing something)

To do something in a very conspicuous, ostentatious manner. He made a great show of sighing despondently while Jenny was there so everyone knew how heartbroken he still was. My mother always made a great show of cleaning up our toys and clothes with a silent, bitter intensity to show just how annoyed she was at having to do it again.

See also: great, make, of, show

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

make a great show of something

Fig. to make something obvious; to do something in a showy fashion. Ann made a great show of wiping up the drink that John spilled. Jane displayed her irritation at our late arrival by making a great show of serving the cold dinner.

See also: great, make, of, show

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.