proportion

Related to proportion: Direct proportion

a disaster of epic proportions

A catastrophe. Often used figuratively. Meteorologists have been predicting that the hurricane will be a disaster of epic proportions for us because we're so close to the coast. Oh, my attempt to ask Addison to the dance was a disaster of epic proportions—I could only squeak out a few incoherent words before turning completely red and running away.
See also: disaster, epic, of, proportion

blow (something) out of (all) proportion

To make something seem more important, negative, or significant than it really is; to exaggerate something or focus unnecessary attention on something. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by that comment—don't blow it out of proportion. Of course she's mad at me because I didn't call her back—you can always count on my mom to blow something out of all proportion!
See also: blow, of, out, proportion

blow (something) up out of proportion

To indicate, imply, or argue that something is more important or consequential than it really is; to overinflate the importance of something. Don't blow this up out of proportion, Bill—I was late because of traffic, and that's it. It's just a small inconvenience, don't blow it up out of proportion and make it sound like the end of the world.
See also: blow, of, out, proportion, up

blown (all) out of proportion

Exaggerated or magnified beyond the true scale or truth of the matter. It was just a minor tremor, not even a proper earthquake, but the media has it blown all out of proportion. These reports on the crime rate are blown out of proportion, if you ask me.
See also: blown, of, out, proportion

in proportion

1. Correctly sized in comparison with something else. Hey, that guy you drew is not in proportion with the buildings in the background.
2. In a realistic or appropriate manner, as opposed to granting something more importance, negativity, or significance than it actually warrants. I know we're all shocked by the announcement, but let's try to keep it in proportion—no one is losing their job, and no one is getting a decrease in pay. In reality, it's just a rearrangement of responsibilities. In the age of social media, people seem incapable of keeping current events in proportion.
See also: proportion

keep (something) in proportion

To refrain from regarding or depicting something in an exaggerated or overblown manner; to not regard or depict something as more important, negative, or significant than it really is. I know we're all shocked by the announcement, but let's try to keep it in proportion—no one is losing their job, and no one is getting a decrease in pay. In reality, it's just a rearrangement of responsibilities. In the age of social media, people seem incapable of keeping current events in proportion.
See also: keep, proportion

of biblical proportions

Of a huge or catastrophic size, magnitude, or severity. The typhoon laid waste to the coast of Japan, causing damage of biblical proportions. An evacuation of biblical proportions has been underway since the civil war began.
See also: biblical, of, proportion

out of proportion

Not the correct size or scale in relation to other things. The crime rate in this city is way out of proportion to its population size. It was just a minor tremor, not even a proper earthquake, but the media has it blown all out of proportion.
See also: of, out, proportion
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

disaster of epic proportions

Cliché a very large disaster. (Often jocular.) The earthquake was responsible for a disaster of epic proportions. Your late arrival caused a disaster of epic proportions.
See also: disaster, epic, of, proportion

in proportion

showing the correct size or proportion relative to something else. That man's large head is not in proportion to his small body. The cartoonist drew the dog in proportion to its surroundings.
See also: proportion

*out of (all) proportion

of exaggerated importance; of an unrealistic importance or size compared to something else. (*Typically: be ~; blow something ~; grow ~.) Thisproblem has grown out of all proportion. Yes, this figure is way out of proportion to the others in the painting.
See also: of, out, proportion
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

out of proportion

Also, out of all proportion. Not in proper relation to other things, especially by being the wrong size or amount. For example, This vase looks out of proportion on this small table, or Her emotional response was out of all proportion to the circumstances. The noun proportion means "an agreeable or harmonious relationship of one thing relative to another." [Early 1700s] The antonym in proportion dates from the late 1600s and also refers either to physical size or appropriate degree, as in The bird's wings are huge in proportion to its body, or Her willingness to believe him stands in direct proportion to her love for intrigue.
See also: of, out, proportion
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

ˌkeep something in proˈportion

react to something in a sensible way and not think it is worse or more serious than it really is: Listen, I know you’re all upset but let’s try to keep things in proportion, shall we?
See also: keep, proportion, something

out of (all) proˈportion (to something)

greater or more important, serious, etc. than it really is or should be: When you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get things out of proportion. The punishment is out of all proportion to the crime.
See also: of, out, proportion
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

blow out of proportion

To make more of than is reasonable; exaggerate.
See also: blow, of, out, proportion
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • disaster
  • disaster of epic proportions
  • epic
  • a disaster of epic proportions
  • be (flat) on (one's) back
  • flat on (one's) back
  • flat on back
  • flat on one's back
  • keester
  • keyster
References in periodicals archive
The age of rural NB nurses is higher than NB urban nurses, with a greater proportion of rural NB nurses over 55 years of age compared to all NB nurses.
Nursing Practice in Rural and Remote Canada II
The proportion of pupils achieving A*-C passes was 69.1%, with 17.2% of students achieving A*-A grades.
Council by council results
Golden proportion for the widths of central incisors to that of lateral incisors existed in 22% and in 11% for the widths of lateral incisors to that of canines.
EVALUATING THE VALIDITY OF MATHEMATICAL PROPORTIONS IN MAXILLARY ANTERIOR TEETH IN JORDANIAN POPULATION
Assessment of the golden proportion in agreeable smiles.
Photographic and manual evaluation of golden percentage and recurrent aesthetic dental proportion in aesthetic smiles
The Golden Proportion really means the relationship between two entities or objects.
Why the golden proportion really is golden
With this in mind, the maxillary dental arches observed from an anterior position generates a stereoscopic visual effect of apparent dimensions that create an anteroposterior vestibular perspective of surface shrinking that accomplish a 1.618:1 in a regressive proportion. GP could fit mathematically but its application on teeth is difficult.
Mestizo Anterior Teeth's Proportions/Proporciones de los Dientes Anteriores en una Poblacion Mestiza
Infrastructure firms also saw a substantial rise in the proportion of women in high-level jobs, to 14% from 11.7% last year, and at real estate outfits, the proportion rose to 13.6% from 12.8%.
Private Equity's Glass Ceiling for Women Is Still Intact, Study Finds
Unable to escape the Recipe Effect, we are forced to admit that once part of the formulation stream, any ingredient's actual proportion cannot be known exactly and thus may risk violating pre-established Q/A proportion tolerance limits.
The paradox of proportioning
(By extension, a 10 percentage point increase in the divorced population is associated with a 0.39 percentage point increase in the teen motherhood rate.) The effect of the separated population--statistically different from that of the divorce rate--suggests that a one percentage point increase in the proportion separated is associated with, on average, an increase in the teen motherhood rate of 0.124 percent.
Understanding teen mothers: a ZIP code analysis
Between 2003 and 2012, the number of women using a modern method increased by 139 million; 106 million of this increase can be attributed to population growth and the remaining 33 million to an increase in the proportion of women using modern methods.
Unmet Need for Contraceptives in Developing World Has Declined, But Remains High in Some Countries
The proportion of those sympathetic with the demonstrations decreases with increasing age, with 24% of youth aged 18-29 sympathetic, compared to 14% among Egyptians aged 50 or older.
Press Release: Baseera Public Opinion Poll about The Egyptian Street's Sympathy Towards Demonstrations in Support of Former President Mohammed Morsi
Karam Allah Ali Abdel Rahman, said earlier that the proportion of inflation had been relatively stable during 2019.
Inflation Rises Again in Sudan
The proportion of women speaking at medical conferences in the United States and Canada increased significantly between 2007 and 2017, while the proportion at surgical specialty conferences lagged noticeably behind, according to new research.
Women speaking at conferences in greater proportion
(2018) who showed that the age of regrowth influences the proportion of the leaf tissues of U.
Forage potential of Urochloa genotypes by using leaf anatomy/Avaliacao do potencial forrageiro de genotipos de Urochloa por meio da anatomia foliar
Some 44% of large EU enterprises recruited or tried to recruit personnel for jobs requiring specialist ICT skills, that is more than 5 times the proportion reported by small and medium sized enterprises (8 %).
TECHNOLOGY: Around half of Cyprus firms found difficulty in hiring ICT experts