kill a fly with an elephant gun
kill a fly with an elephant gun
To take excessive, overcomplicated, or extravagant means or force to accomplish something relatively minor or simple. With this new system of issuing licenses, the government is trying to kill a fly with an elephant gun. Four separate departments now handle each stage of an application, when a single department could easily process applications from start to finish. Look, you've got some money issues, sure, but filing for bankruptcy would be killing a fly with an elephant gun.
See also: elephant, fly, gun, kill
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- a sledgehammer to crack a nut
- employ a steam engine to crack a nut
- engine
- take a sledgehammer to crack a nut
- use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
- a committee is a group of men who keep minutes and waste hours
- group
- no expense is spared
- spare no expense
- spare no expense/pains/trouble doing something