make a mountain out of a molehill

1. To blow an issue or event out of proportion: “You have only a small blister on your heel, but you complain as though you broke your leg. Why are you making a mountain out of a molehill?”

Idioms and Phrases

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).

More About Make A Mountain Out Of A Molehill

What does make a mountain out of a molehill mean?

Make a mountain out of a molehill means to exaggerate something minor or trivial, as in You are making a mountain out of a molehill when you say that missing one basket is the end of your entire basketball career.

A molehill is a small mound of dirt that moles leave when digging tunnels. Obviously, a molehill is very tiny and insignificant compared to a mountain. The idiom alludes to a person treating a “molehill” of a problem as if it were a “mountain” of a problem—one that is much bigger or more important.

Make a mountain out of a molehill is typically used in the context of someone who is getting incredibly upset, angry, or worried about something that doesn’t matter or that is a small problem.

It is often used to tell a person that they are making a big deal out of something small, as in Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill—it’s just a little spill.

Example: Darnell’s parents made a mountain out of a molehill when he wrote on the wall with washable markers.

Where does make a mountain out of a molehill come from?

The first records of the phrase make a mountain out of a molehill come from 1570. It first appeared in historian John Foxe’s The Book of Martyrs. 

Make a mountain out of a molehill is most often said by one person to lower another person’s stress or to criticize them for overreacting. However, a person using this phrase may not be right. The person reacting may have different priorities or have knowledge that proves the problem is in reality quite serious.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for make a mountain out of a molehill?

• exaggerate
• embellish
• dramatize
• hyperbolize
• make a federal case of

What are some words that share a root or word element with make a mountain out of a molehill? 

• make
• mountain
• molehill

What are some words that often get used in discussing make a mountain out of a molehill?

• overblown
• proportion
• deal
• problem
• triviality
• minor

How is make a mountain out of a molehill used in real life?

Make a mountain out of a molehill commonly used in the context of trying to calm a person down or criticize them for getting overly upset about something minor.

So the Leafs are losing. There's no need to make a mountain out of a molehill.

But just to be safe, they should probably fire their coach, GM and mascot.

And undraft Matthews.

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) March 14, 2019

Tip of the day: Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Breathe. Take situations as they are. Overthinking is pointless and far from a solution.

— yadi (@yadirtyy) July 10, 2019

I overthink too much and always make mountains out of a molehills

— moll (@mollywollydoodh) September 14, 2014

 

 

Try using make a mountain out of a molehill!

Is make a mountain out of a molehill used correctly in the following sentence?

The police were unamused when they discovered the store owner had made a mountain out of a molehill and the ferocious beast in the store turned out to be a sleeping puppy.