1.exhibition多指“展览,展览会”,指某物处于对外开放,可以让人参观的状态,或指将众多物品放在某一特定场所,形成一定规模的展览,从而达到推销某物或使人加深对其了解的目的。exhibition还可指“表现,显示”。
2.on exhibition的意思是“展出中”,在句中可作主语或表语,此时exhibition前不可有冠词。

make an exhibition of oneself
出洋相,当众出丑 behave foolishly or badly in public
Get up off the floor and stop making such an exhibition of yourself.从地板上爬起来吧,别丢人现眼了。
He is really a very clever man, but because he makes such an exhibition of himself at parties nobody can believe that he's serious.他这人确实很伶俐,而他在聚会上如此丢人现眼,却没人会相信他是当真的。
Stop making me cry in the street,I hate making an exhibition of myself.别弄得我在街上哭,我讨厌当众出丑。
When the old man got drunk he made a terrible exhibition of himself.那老头喝醉酒时出尽了洋相。
Out of training as he was, he was afraid of making an exhibition of himself.他因缺乏训练,很怕出洋相。

on exhibition
在展出中 on show
They showed keen interest in the various lathes on exhibition.他们对展出中的各类车床表现出了浓厚的兴趣。
The newly discovered Greek sculpture is now on exhibition at the national museum.新近发现的希腊雕塑品现在正在国家博物馆展出。
Some of the children's paintings are now on exhibition at school.现在学校里正展出一些孩子们的画。

We wanted to go to an aesthetic exhibition.我们想去参观一个艺术展览。
We attended an exhibition of her drawings.我们参观了她的图画展。
The film was refused a licence for public exhibition.这部影片没有获得公映许可证。
This is the northeast entrance to the exhibition hall.这是展览大厅的东北入口。
A concert was given in aid of the exhibition.为了帮助展览会筹集经费,举行了一场音乐会。
She will have an exhibition of her pictures.她将为自己的画作举办一个展览会。
In 1851 a great exhibition of industrial products was held in London.1851年在伦敦举行了一次工业品大型展览会。
The ceremonial opening of the exhibition was very spectacular.展览会的开幕式非常壮观。
It was such a good exhibition that we went to see it several times.这个展览会非常好,我们去看了好几次。
All these exhibitions were organized by the company.所有这些展览会都是由该公司主办的。
Will you go to the Art Exhibition?你要去参观美术展览会吗?
I saw Harold at the automobile exhibition.我在汽车博览会上碰见了哈罗德。
There were no good ivory-carvings in the Art Exhibition this spring.今年春季的艺术展览会上没有好的象牙雕刻品。
I never saw such an exhibition of bad manners before.我从未见过如此无礼貌的表现。
The quiz was a good opportunity for the exhibition of his knowledge.这次测验是他显示知识的好机会。
There's an exhibition of pottery-making at the fair.在集市场上有陶器制作的示范表演。

exhibition, exhibit
这两个词的共同意思是:“陈列,展览”。其区别在于:exhibit多指陈列物品之一或一些展品。例如:
Don't touch the exhibits.不要触摸展品。
exhibition则专指艺术或商品的展览会。例如:
The art school holds an exhibition of paintings every year.这所艺术学校每年举办一个画展。

exhibition, show
这两个词的共同意思是“展览会”。其区别在于:exhibition尤指大型展览会,多以推销或介绍产品为目的。show则多指小型展览会。例如:
There is a flower show in the park.公园里正在举行花卉展览。

我昨天在展览会上遇见了他。
［误］  I came across him on exhibition yesterday.
［正］  I came across him at the exhibition yesterday.
［析］  on exhibition的意思是“在展出中”,而不是“在展览会上”。

［词源］  ＜中古英语exhibiten＜拉丁语exhibitus＜exhibere(展示出来)