make a mountain out of a molehill, to
make a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate or put too much focus on a minor issue and make it seem like a major one. You got one B and you're acting like you're failing the class. You're making a mountain out of a molehill, if you ask me. This is a minor setback. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill.
See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
make a mountain out of a molehill
Cliché to make a major issue out of a minor one; to exaggerate the importance of something. Come on, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. It's not that important. Mary is always making mountains out of molehills.
See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
make a mountain out of a molehill
Exaggerate trifling difficulties, as in If you forgot you racket you can borrow one-don't make a mountain out of a molehill. This expression, alluding to the barely raised tunnels created by moles, was first recorded in John Fox's The Book of Martyrs (1570).
See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
make a mountain out of a molehill
If someone makes a mountain out of a molehill, they talk or complain about a small, unimportant problem as if it is important and serious. The company's CEO has blamed the media for making a mountain out of a molehill. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill — it's really not a big deal.
See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
make a mountain out of a molehill
foolishly or pointlessly exaggerate the importance of something trivial.The contrast between the size of molehills and that of mountains has been made in this and related expressions since the late 16th century.
See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
make a ˌmountain out of a ˈmolehill
(disapproving) make a small or unimportant problem seem much more serious than it really is: It’s not such a big problem! You’re making a mountain out of a molehill!See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
make a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate a minor problem.
See also: make, molehill, mountain, of, out
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
make a mountain out of a molehill, to
To exaggerate trifling problems. This English equivalent of the French faire d’une mouche un éléphant (make an elephant out of a fly) first appeared in 1570, in John Fox’s The Book of Martyrs. The legendary humorist Fred Allen played on it: “A vice-president in an advertising agency is a ‘molehill man’ who has until 5 p.m. to make a molehill into a mountain. An accomplished molehill man will often have his mountain finished before lunch” (Treadmill to Oblivion, 1954).
See also: make, mountain, of, out
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- make a (big) thing (out) of (something)
- make a drama out of (something)
- make a drama out of something
- make a mountain of a molehill
- make a thing of
- make a thing of/out of something
- make mountains out of molehills
- mole
- molehill
- strain at a gnat