# make a mountain out of a molehill

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- Please stop making a mountain out of a molehill.
- You are making a mountain out of a molehill because you are worried about one small typo in your report.
- It is a minor disagreement, yet he continues to make a mountain out of a molehill, causing unnecessary tension for the entire team.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.