English Reference
Idiom idiom

make a mountain out of a molehill


To treat a problem as greater than it is; to blow something out of proportion; to exaggerate the importance of something trivial.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

Please stop making a mountain out of a molehill.

CONTEXTUAL

You are making a mountain out of a molehill because you are worried about one small typo in your report.

COMPLEX

It is a minor disagreement, yet he continues to make a mountain out of a molehill, causing unnecessary tension for the entire team.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    absence makes the heart grow fonder

    One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

  2. 02

    cannot make it

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

  3. 03

    doctors make the worst patients

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

  4. 04

    enough to make a cat laugh

    Very outlandish or outrageous.

  5. 05

    enough to make the angels weep

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

  6. 06

    fine feathers make fine birds

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

  7. 07

    have a mountain to climb

    To face a difficult task or challenge.

  8. 08

    have it made

    To have accomplished all there is to do; to have no further work or difficulty.

Last updated August 10, 2026