strain at a gnat

idiom

Meaning

to make a mountain out of a molehill

Origin

disputed origin

From the King James Version of the Bible, verse Matthew 23:24.

Examples

SIMPLE

Don't strain at a gnat when the big problem is obvious.

CONTEXTUAL

You focus on tiny typos in the report while ignoring the fact that the data is completely wrong; you really strain at a gnat.

COMPLEX

It is frustrating to watch the committee strain at a gnat regarding minor formatting rules while the entire project budget remains dangerously unapproved.

Anchors to

gnat
Strain

Related idioms2entries

01
strain a point
To make a special effort; especially, to do a degree of violence to some principle or to one's own feelings.
02
strain at the leash
To be very eager to do or begin something.