ENGLISH
REFERENCE

make a meal of

idiom
Meaning

To spend more time and energy on some task than it warrants; to make something overly complicated; to make a big thing out of.


Examples
SIMPLE

Don't make a meal of it — just finish the report.

CONTEXTUAL

He made a meal of washing the dishes, taking two hours when it needed twenty minutes.

COMPLEX

The critic made a meal of the novel's minor flaws, devoting pages to symbolism that most readers would barely notice.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    cannot make it

    Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.

  2. 02

    doctors make the worst patients

    It is difficult to advise people on subjects that they are experts on.

  3. 03

    enough to make a cat laugh

    Very outlandish or outrageous.

  4. 04

    enough to make the angels weep

    Something so distressing that it causes one to lose hope and faith.

  5. 05

    fine feathers make fine birds

    Something that appears beautiful or good is by definition beautiful or good.

  6. 06

    it takes all kinds to make a world

    Diversity is essential: the world would be incomplete if everyone were alike; an expression of surprise at a person or people's eccentricity.

  7. 07

    it takes two to make a quarrel

    It takes two or more people to cause a quarrel; one cannot blame an argument entirely on the other side.

  8. 08

    kiss and make up

    To settle one's differences and forgive.

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