1. exaggerate or make a point of something, behave embarrassingly in public
Professional
Social
he made a show of picking up the heavy bags
To 'make a show of' something means to deliberately display a particular feeling, attitude or action. If you make a show of something you are making it clear or doing something in a performative way for someone else's benefit or attention. "He made a show of looking through his diary to leave no doubt in their mind that he was a busy man." If you 'make a show of someone', it means to embarrass them in front of others. "The teacher made a show of her student by calling her up to the front of the class and forcing her to present her drawing to everyone."