Meaning
Exaggerate a minor problem.
Primary Function
Exaggeration
Communicative Purpose
To downplay overreactions and encourage proportionate responses.
Pattern
make a mountain out of a molehill
Core Structure
make a mountain out of a molehill
Função primária
Exaggeration
Propósito comunicativo
To downplay overreactions and encourage proportionate responses.
Situações de gatilho
Minor issues being blown out of proportion, unnecessary panic, overzealous responses.
Contextos
Personal, work.
Padrão
make a mountain out of a molehill
Estrutura central
make a mountain out of a molehill
Slots de substituição
none
Colocados típicos
- don’t
- you’re
- stop trying to
Substituições comuns
- make a big deal out of nothing
Erros comuns
*make a mountain from a molehill* (incorrect preposition)
Similar / contraste
storm in a teacup, make a big deal out of nothing
Interferências
Not about landscaping.
Família do chunk
- Exaggeration idioms
Nuance
Dismissive of overreaction.
Efeito pragmático
Calls for calm.
Dica de memória
Tiny molehill exaggerated to Everest.
Nota
Suggests treating minor problems with appropriate scale.
Upgrade path
disproportionately magnify a triviality (formal)
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