make (someone or something) out to be (something)
To characterize something in a certain way, often one that is not accurate. The trailer made the movie out to be an action-adventure, but it was really just a boring period piece. Please don't make me out to be a liar—at the time, I thought what I was telling you was true.
make something out to be (something else)
to portray something as something else. You are trying to make this tragedy out to be a minor matter. They made the disease out to be something far more serious than it really is.