PhrasesHub

To make a mountain out of a molehill

    Definitions

      • exaggeration
        To greatly exaggerate or overreact to a small or insignificant issue or problem

      • overcomplication
        To unnecessarily complicate or make a simple situation or task more difficult than it actually is

    Examples of To make a mountain out of a molehill

    • After spilling a small amount of coffee on the carpet, my roommate started panicking and declared, "Oh no, we need to call a professional cleaning service! We can't let this turn into a mountain out of a molehill!"

      This idiom means to exaggerate or make a big deal out of something that is not significant or important. In this example, the roommate is overreacting to a small spill and turning it into a bigger issue than it needs to be. By using this idiom, the speaker is implying that their roommate is being overly dramatic and should calm down.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "to make a mountain out of a molehill" is used to describe when someone exaggerates or overcomplicates a situation or problem. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to work-related issues. It is often used to caution against overreacting or unnecessarily complicating things.

    In some cases, this idiom can also be used to describe the act of turning a small or insignificant issue into a larger and more serious one. It can also imply that the person is blowing something out of proportion and making it seem more important or significant than it actually is.

    Origin of "To make a mountain out of a molehill"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the 16th century, where it was used in a literal sense to describe the act of making a physical mountain out of a molehill. This was a common practice in gardening and landscaping at the time, where gardeners would create artificial mounds or hills to add dimension to their gardens.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to take on a figurative meaning, with "molehill" representing a small and insignificant issue, and "mountain" representing an exaggerated and overcomplicated version of that issue. This evolution can be seen in various literary works from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the phrase is now commonly used in everyday language.