to-make-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill
/tuː meɪk ə ˈmaʊn.tɪn aʊt ɒv ə ˈməʊl.hɪl/ IELTSAcademic
idiom
To make a small problem seem much bigger than it really is. It describes overreacting or turning a minor issue into a serious one.
- Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
- She made a mountain out of a molehill over one late email.
- It's only a small mistake, not a crisis.
Adinary Nuance
This idiom is close to overreact, but it focuses on the size of the problem you create in your mind or speech. It is also different from exaggerate, which can mean making a story bigger in general, not only about problems. Use this phrase when someone is treating a small issue like a big disaster.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Làm quá lên
- Spanish
- Hacer una montaña de un grano de arena
- Chinese
- 小题大做
- Japanese
- 大げさに騒ぐ
- Korean
- 사소한 일을 크게 만들다
Etymology
This idiom appeared in English in the 16th century. It uses a molehill, a tiny mound made by a mole, to show how a small thing can be exaggerated into a mountain.
Common phrases
make a mountain out of a molehillstop making a mountain out of a molehillnot a mountain, just a molehill
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'make a mountain out of a molehill' formal or informal?
- It is common in both spoken and written English. It sounds natural in everyday speech and in general writing.
- What is the difference between this phrase and 'overreact'?
- Overreact means reacting too strongly. This idiom means treating a small problem like a huge one.
- Can I use this in IELTS speaking?
- Yes. It is a useful idiom for describing stress, conflict, or exaggerated reactions.