make a show—(also: put on a show) display an outward appearance or semblance of smth.:
- The gardener was a very old man, somewhat deaf, who was only making a show of working.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase do a show—(coll.) attend an entertainment:
- People over a wide area would dine and do a show, as they do at Stratford.
make a showing—give a demonstration of some competence or worth:
- She’s very young, and I thought it was fine that she even made a showing among all those older contestants.