make a mountain out of a molehill
Say it: make a MOWN-tin out of a MOHL-hil /ˌmeɪk ə ˈmaʊntɪn aʊt əv ə ˈməʊlhɪl/ · idiom
What “make a mountain out of a molehill” means
Treat a small problem as a huge one.
More precisely: To treat a small problem as if it were a major one.
Example: “It's one typo in an email; don't make a mountain out of a molehill.”
When to use it
When someone reacts far too strongly to a minor problem. Informal, sometimes teasing, but it can sound dismissive.
Similar words
overreact, blow out of proportion
Quick check
One biscuit breaks, and your friend declares the whole picnic ruined and starts panicking. Which phrase describes their reaction?
make a mountain out of a molehill or nip it in the bud?
Show the answer
make a mountain out of a molehill
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