PhrasesHub

making a mountain out of a molehill

    Definitions

      • exaggerate
        To blow something out of proportion, making a small issue seem much larger or more important than it really is

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

    Examples of making a mountain out of a molehill

    • The CEO seemed overly concerned about the minor error made by the marketing team in their latest campaign. It felt like they were making a mountain out of a molehill.

      The CEO's reaction was disproportionate to the severity of the mistake. It was a small mistake, like a molehill, but the CEO reacted as if it were a major issue, comparing it to a mountain.

    • After the game, the coach gave a long and harsh lecture to the team, but all they did was win by a significant margin. It seemed like the coach was making a mountain out of a molehill.

      The team's victory was a significant one, so it's natural for the coach to want to celebrate it with the team. However, the length and intensity of the lecture seemed excessive for the situation.

    • During the meeting, my boss kept finding faults in every little detail of my presentation. It felt like she was making a mountain out of a molehill.

      My boss was being overly critical of my presentation, focusing on small details that didn't significantly impact the overall presentation. It made me feel that she was exaggerating the issues and making a big deal out of nothing.

    • The news anchor spent several minutes discussing a weather event that was forecasted to have little impact on the region. It seemed like they were making a mountain out of a molehill.

      The weather event was not significant enough to warrant such extensive coverage. It was being presented as though it were a major issue, but in reality, it was a minor event that would cause little consequence.

    • John became incredibly upset when his coworker accidentally spilled a small amount of coffee on his shirt during a meeting. John's anger seemed disproportionate to the situation, as if he were making a mountain out of a molehill.

      The expression "making a mountain out of a molehill" means exaggerating or blowing out of proportion something that is insignificant or minor. In this example, spilling a small amount of coffee on a shirt is a minor incident that doesn't warrant such a strong reaction. Therefore, John's anger seems excessive and disproportionate to the situation, as if he were turning a molehill into a mountain.

    • Rachel, who was previously very quiet and reserved, suddenly became very defensive and angry during a job interview when the interviewer asked her a couple of routine questions. Her reaction seemed like she was making a mountain out of a molehill, as if she were able to perceive a hidden insult or offense in the interviewer's questions.

      In this example, Rachel's sudden and disproportionate reaction to simple interview questions seems like she's making a mountain out of a molehill because she's perceiving a hidden insult or offense in the questions that aren't meant to be insulting or offensive. This expression means that someone is exaggerating or overreacting to a situation that is minor or insignificant.

    • The politician's frequent and unnecessary use of hyperbole in his speeches has led many of his constituents to believe that he's making a mountain out of a molehill. They find it hard to trust his statements, as they seem like exaggerated and unrealistic promises that can never be fulfilled.

      In this example, the expression "making a mountain out of a molehill" is used figuratively to describe a politician's excessive use of hyperbole and exaggeration in his speeches. The phrase "making a mountain out of a molehill" implies that the politician is promising or implying something that is unrealistic, disproportionate, or untrue to the situation. This expression is used when someone is exaggerating or overstating the truth to an unfair or unneeded degree.

    • The students' complaints about the slight reduction in their grades seemed like they were making a mountain out of a molehill. The teachers tried to reassure them that the grade reduction was not significant and that it wouldn't have a noticeable effect on their overall grades.

      In this example, "making a mountain out of a molehill" is used to describe the students' excessive and disproportionate reaction to a slight reduction in their grades. The phrase "making a mountain out of a molehill" implies that the students' complaints are exaggerated or overstated, as the grade reduction is not significant, and it won't have a noticeable effect on their overall grades. This expression is used when someone reacts excessively or disproportionately to a minor or insignificant situation, making it appear greater than it is.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "making a mountain out of a molehill" can be used to describe the act of exaggerating or blowing something out of proportion. It can also be used to caution someone against engaging in an activity that is not worth the effort or may lead to unnecessary stress.

    Origin of "making a mountain out of a molehill"

    The origin of the idiom "making a mountain out of a molehill" can be traced back to the 16th century. The phrase first appeared in print in 1660 in a work by John Foxe, an English historian and martyrologist. The idiom is believed to have been derived from the practice of molehills being made by moles as they burrow underground, which are very small in comparison to the size of a mountain. Over time, the idiom has evolved to represent the act of exaggerating or blowing things out of proportion.

    The phrase has been widely used in English literature and language, and it continues to be a popular idiom in modern times. Its origins in the natural world make it a vivid and relatable expression for many people.