Ah, the classic idiom “make a mountain out of a molehill”! 🐜🏔️ It’s the ultimate expression for when you’re prone to turning life’s minor inconveniences into life-altering catastrophes.
Definition: To make a big deal out of something small—literally turning a tiny mound of dirt made by a mole into a towering peak.
Related and Similar Terms
- Storm in a teacup: Making a huge fuss over something trivial.
- Much ado about nothing: (Shakespeare vibes!) Exaggerated concern over insignificant things.
- Tempest in a teapot: Another variation for trivial, blown-out-of-proportion drama.
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better.” — Walt Disney
- “Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.” — Ann Brashares
Proverbs
- “Don’t cross that bridge until you come to it.”
- “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Literature: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes—an entire book on overreacting to imagined threats.
- Book: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare.
- Songs: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin—a musical slap on the wrist for excessive worrying.
- Movies: Chicken Little explores what happens when you repeatedly cry wolf… or in this case, “the sky is falling.”
Inspirational Thought
Never let molehills take up space next to your dreams.
### The real idiom for making a big fuss over a small issue is...
- [x] Making a mountain out of a molehill
- [ ] Building a skyscraper out of a matchbox
- [ ] Growing a volcano from a pebble
- [ ] Creating a tsunami from a tear
> **Explanation:** "Making a mountain out of a molehill" is the recognized idiom. The others are creative alterations or fabrications.
### Choose the existing phrase that deals with minor problems exaggerated into big problems:
- [ ] Rising sea out of a puddle
- [x] Tempest in a teapot
- [ ] Thunderstorm from a drizzle
- [ ] Hurricane out of a breeze
> **Explanation:** "Tempest in a teapot" is a known idiom resembling "making a mountain out of a molehill".
### True or False: 'Storm in a teacup' is similar in meaning to 'making a mountain out of a molehill'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Both idioms refer to making a big issue out of something minor and insignificant.
### Which of these idioms means underplaying a significant event?
- [ ] Much ado about nothing
- [ ] Mountain out of a molehill
- [x] Making light of something
- [ ] Storm in a teacup
> **Explanation:** "Making light of something” means treating a serious issue as less important than it is.
Brought to you by E. Z. Prismatrans, take this wisdom: mountains may stand tall, but it’s the smallest molehills that often trip us up. Face today’s peaks and valleys with perspective and a sense of humor! 🌄😄
