Dictionary

make a mountain out of a molehill en · VERB

Pronunciation

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Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To treat a problem as greater than it is; to blow something out of proportion; to exaggerate the importance of something trivial.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Dublin, John Smith, Volume 3, Book 15, Chapter 10, pp. 170-171, For of all the Powers exercised by this Passion over our Minds, one of the most wonderful is that of supporting Hope in the midst of Despair. […] Yet it is equally true, that the same Passion will sometimes make Mountans of Mole-hills, and produce Despair in the midst of Hope;
   • 1573, John Bridges, The Supremacie of Christian Princes Over All Persons Throughout Theor Dominions, London: Humphrey Toye, Division 18, p. 553, to slaunder the Gospell ye aggrauate many lies, & will make a mountaine of a mole hill
   • If you’re stuck in traffic, try not to make a mountain out of a molehill worrying about it too much. You could be making it much worse.
   • 1642, James Howell, Instructions for Forreine Travell, London: Humphrey Mosley, Section 14, p. 176-177, Others have a custome to bee always relating strange things and wonders, […] they make Mountaines of Mole-hils, like Charenton-Bridge-Eccho, which doubles the sound nine times.
   • She wondered why he, who did not usually trouble over trifles, made such a mountain of this molehill. 1913, D. H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, London: Heinemann, Part 2, Chapter 7, p. 181:
   • “I have now only one remark to offer, on leaving this case in your hands. There is such a thing, Sergeant, as making a mountain out of a molehill. Good morning.” 1868, Wilkie Collins, chapter 12, in The Moonstone, volume 1, London: Tinsley Brothers, page 207:

Forms

Deriveds

molehill mountaineer

Relateds

much ado about nothing · magnify · make a big thing out of · sweat the small stuff · tempest in a teapot · blow out of proportion · federal case

Translations (56)

da gøre en myg til en elefant (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · es ahogarse en un vaso de agua (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · ro face din țânțar armăsar (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · bg вдигна шум за нищо (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · fr faire tout un fromage de (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · cs dělat z komára velblouda (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · fo gera nógv burtur úr ongum (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · it fare di una mosca un elefante (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · hu bolhából elefántot csinál (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · de aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · eo fari el muŝo elefanton (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · fr faire une montagne d'une taupinière (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · ca ofegar-se en un got d'aigua (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · is gera úlfalda úr mýflugu (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · pl zrobić z muchy słonia (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · el κάνω την τρίχα τριχιά (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · nn gjere ein mygg til ein elefant (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · ja 物事を誇張する (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · fr faire une montagne d'une souris (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · be рабіць з мухі слана (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · el πνίγομαι σε μια κουταλιά νερό (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · et teha sääsest elevant (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · fr se noyer dans un verre d'eau (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · he עָשָׂה מִזְּבוּב פִּיל (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · es hacer de una pulga un elefante (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · nl van een muis een olifant maken (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · sk urobiť z komára somára (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · kmr mêş kirin gamêş (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · bg вдигам шум за нищо (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · az milçəkdən fil düzəltmək (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · he עָשָׂה מֵעַכְבָּר הַר (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · tr habbeyi kubbe yapmak (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · pl robić z igły widły (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · pl robić z muchy słonia (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · vi chuyện bé xé ra to (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · sv göra en höna av en fjäder (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · la nodum in scirpo quero (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · pl zrobić z igły widły (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · fi tehdä kärpäsestä härkänen (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · cy gwneud môr a mynydd (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · cmn 小題大作 /小题大作 (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · ko 노승발검 (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · nl van een mug een olifant maken (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · sl narediti iz muhe slona (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · id membuat gunung dari sarang tikus mondok (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · de aus einem Furz einen Donnerschlag machen (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · bg правя от мухата слон (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · tr pireyi deve yapmak (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · es hacer una montaña de un grano de arena (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · nb gjøre en mygg til en elefant (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · no gjøre en fjær til fem høns (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · ca fer-ne una muntanya (d'un gra de sorra) (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · pt fazer tempestade em copo d'água (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · pt fazer uma tempestade num copo de água (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · he רָאָה צֵל הָרִים כְּהָרִים (to treat a problem as greater than it is) · kk түймедейді түйедей ету (to treat a problem as greater than it is)