mountain

have a mountain to climb be facing a very difficult task.

if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain if one party will not compromise, the other party will have to make the extra effort.

☞ The story behind this expression is that Muhammad was once challenged to demonstrate his credentials as a prophet by summoning Mount Safa to come to him. When the mountain did not move in response to the summons, Muhammad observed that had the mountain moved it would undoubtedly have overwhelmed him and all his followers and that therefore he would go to the mountain to give thanks to God for his mercy in not allowing this disaster to happen.

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.

man mountain: seeman.

move mountains

1 achieve spectacular and apparently impossible results.

2 make every possible effort.

☞ In sense 1, the phrase alludes to 1 Corinthians 13:2: 'And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing'.