put up a show
Verb
Meaning
put up a show (third-person singular simple present puts up a show, present participle putting up a show, simple past and past participle put up a show)
(informal) To do something particularly well or particularly badly.
Examples
[Y]ou've got to put up a show of being tough nowadays, especially if you're a girl, or else they'd all be walking over you with nailed boots. They do that anyhow, in the long run, if you're a woman.
I've learned a lot about putting a show up in Vegas. You can't just all of a sudden put up a show here and do well. Nobody does.
To put up a show is to face life's injustices with one of the few weapons available to a desperate and brave people, their imagination.