make a mountain out of a molehill
Blow things up
To make a mountain out of a molehill is to treat a minor problem as if it were a major crisis, exaggerating its importance or difficulty far beyond what the situation warrants.
The image contrasts the tiny heap of earth pushed up by a burrowing mole with a towering peak: You forgot one appointment—don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- make a big thing out ofExaggerate importance of something
- fussAgitated, unnecessary concern
- crying wolfIssuing false warnings
- tempest in a teapotDisproportionate fuss about trivialities
inflate · federal case · exaggerate · dramatize · drama queen · hyperbolize · magnify · overemphasize · overdo · blow out of proportion · alarmism · catastrophizing · sweat the small stuff · tempest in a teacup · cognitive distortion · sensationalism · teacup · nitpick
make a mountain out of a molehilldownplay
Diminish perceived importance
minimize · understate · play down · brush off · shrug off
make a mountain out of a molehillkeep calm
Remain emotionally steady
stay calm · keep one's cool · roll with the punches · take it easy · go with the flow
mountain, making, mountains, mountainous, molehill, molehills