Van een mug een olifant maken



Example: Je moet van een mug geen olifant maken bij dit kleine probleem.

Definition


"Van een mug een olifant maken" is a Dutch expression meaning to exaggerate a small problem or issue, making it seem much bigger or more serious than it really is. It is often used to advise someone not to overreact unnecessarily.

Translations


  • to make a mountain out of a molehill
  • hacer una montaña de un grano de arena
  • fer una muntanya d'un gra de sorra
  • faire une montagne d'un rien
  • aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen
  • fare una montagna di un granello di sabbia
  • fazer tempestade em copo d'água

Etymology


The phrase "van een mug een olifant maken" literally translates to 'making an elephant out of a mosquito.' It humorously contrasts the tiny mosquito with the huge elephant to illustrate exaggeration. This saying reflects a common human tendency to amplify minor troubles, and it has been passed down in Dutch culture for generations.

Learn to use this expression actively


"Van een mug een olifant maken" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Dutch as the language you want to learn.

Create a free account



Related words