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Region: General | Usage example: She made a mountain out of a molehill after the typo.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Meaning

Exaggerate minor issues.

Usage

Used to caution against overreacting.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Geographical comparison showing disproportionate reaction.

Proverb dating back to at least the 16th century.

Related Idioms

Make a long story short

Summarize briefly.

Make waves

Cause disturbance or draw attention by challenging norms.

Make head or tail

Understand something unclear.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.