make a mountain out of a molehill

present singular third person makes a mountain out of a molehill · participle present making a mountain out of a molehill · participle past made a mountain out of a molehill · past made a mountain out of a molehill · alternative make mountains out of molehills

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

   If you’re stuck in traffic, try not to make a mountain out of a molehill worrying about it too much. You could be making it much worse.

   5 more examples

   1573, John Bridges, The Supremacie of Christian Princes Over All Persons Throughout Theor Dominions, London: Humphrey Toye, Division 18, p. 553, to slaunder the Gospell ye aggrauate many lies, & will make a mountaine of a mole hill

   1642, James Howell, Instructions for Forreine Travell, London: Humphrey Mosley, Section 14, p. 176-177, Others have a custome to bee always relating strange things and wonders, […] they make Mountaines of Mole-hils, like Charenton-Bridge-Eccho, which doubles the sound nine times.

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Dublin, John Smith, Volume 3, Book 15, Chapter 10, pp. 170-171, For of all the Powers exercised by this Passion over our Minds, one of the most wonderful is that of supporting Hope in the midst of Despair. […] Yet it is equally true, that the same Passion will sometimes make Mountans of Mole-hills, and produce Despair in the midst of Hope;

   “I have now only one remark to offer, on leaving this case in your hands. There is such a thing, Sergeant, as making a mountain out of a molehill. Good morning.”

   1868, Wilkie Collins, chapter 12, in The Moonstone, volume 1, London: Tinsley Brothers, page 207

   She wondered why he, who did not usually trouble over trifles, made such a mountain of this molehill.

   1913, D. H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, London: Heinemann, Part 2, Chapter 7, p. 181