make a meal of
Blow something up
To make a meal of something is to treat it as more complicated or time-consuming than it needs to be, often with unnecessary fuss or drama: Don't make a meal of it—just apologize and move on.
The phrase suggests someone is overcomplicating a simple task or dwelling excessively on a minor matter.
In British usage, it can also mean to defeat someone thoroughly or consume something eagerly.
Represent as greater
- dramatizeDepict with heightened emotion
- embellishAdd decorative elements
- inflateFill with gas
- amplifyIncrease in strength
magnify · blow up · overplay · sensationalize · overemphasize · hyperbolize · overdramatize · overdo
Ponder far too much
- overanalyzeScrutinize beyond usefulness
- overelaborateExcessively detailed or complex
- overengineerComplicate beyond requirements
- overworkToil to exhaustion
complicate · labor · belabor · drag out · draw out · prolong · dwell on · fuss over
overstate
Represent as greater
amplify · magnify · blow up · overplay · sensationalize · overemphasize · hyperbolize · overdramatize · overdo · stretch
overthink
Ponder far too much
- overanalyzeScrutinize beyond usefulness
- overelaborateExcessively detailed or complex
- overengineerComplicate beyond requirements
overwork · complicate · labor · belabor · drag out · draw out · prolong · dwell on · fuss over · nitpick
make a meal ofbreeze through
Accomplish with effortless ease
make short work of · make light work of · knock out · dispatch · polish off
make a meal ofplay down
Diminish perceived significance
downplay · make nothing of · brush off · shrug off · keep it simple
make, makes, made, making, maker, makers, meal, meals, mealy