go ape over someone—(sl.) display strong enthusiasm for a person (also: go ape for someone):
- The Saudis would agree that the price [of oil] would not go up…. The American public would go ape over the Saudis when this was announced.
play the sedulous ape to someone—imitate another person’s style, manners, etc.:
- I remember walking through the Metropolitan Museum of Art and seeing some young painters playing the sedulous ape to Rembrandt.
See also: make a monkey of someone / monkey someone.