Dictionary

federal case en · NOUN

Etymology

In the United States of America, courts with federal jurisdiction generally are for much more serious offenses than those whose cases are heard by local courts.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, informal) An exaggerated ordeal; excessive fuss or indignation about some situation.
   • You think I'm some kind of codependent ditz overwhelmed by reality outside of Catholic school, and I'm not supposed to make a federal case out of it? 2010, Zachary Klaas, Time Tourists, page 122:
   • So I didn't put the toilet seat down — you don't have to make a federal case out of it.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see federal, case.

Forms

Relateds

make a mountain out of a molehill

Synonyms

song and dance (something over-exaggerated) · meal (something over-exaggerated) · big thing (something over-exaggerated) · big deal (something over-exaggerated) · production (something over-exaggerated)