ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mistake windmills for giants

idiom
Meaning

To perceive ordinary, nonthreatening objects or situations as significant dangers or adversaries, often due to an overly romantic, idealistic, or deluded worldview.


Origin

disputed origin

Something to do with Don Quixote...

Examples
SIMPLE

You often mistake windmills for giants when you worry too much.

CONTEXTUAL

He is so eager to find a conspiracy that he constantly mistakes windmills for giants in his daily life.

COMPLEX

By viewing every minor administrative change as a deliberate attack on his authority, the manager frequently mistakes windmills for giants.

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants

    One who discovers by building on previous discoveries.

  2. 02

    stand on the shoulders of giants

    To build on the achievements of others before one.

  3. 03

    tilt at windmills

    To attack imaginary enemies.

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