molehill

American  

[mohl-hil] / ˈmoʊlˌhɪl /

noun

1. a small mound or ridge of earth raised up by a mole or moles burrowing under the ground.

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idioms

1. make a mountain out of a molehill, to exaggerate a minor difficulty.

molehill British  

/ ˈməʊlˌhɪl /

noun

1. the small mound of earth thrown up by a burrowing mole

2. to exaggerate an unimportant matter out of all proportion

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molehill More Idioms  

1. see make a mountain out of a molehill.

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Etymology

Origin of molehill

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at mole ¹, hill

Example Sentences

Chris Ryley, who co-runs the pub, said "a mountain has been made out of a molehill" and that the dolls were "part of our history".

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2023

Shame on people for making a mountain out of a molehill.

From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2023

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi -- from every mountainside.

From Fox News • Jan. 17, 2022

In another, two moles stare at a mountain in the distance, and one says, “It started out as a molehill, but then I just kept going.”

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2020

Pardon me, but I resented being called a molehill almost as much as being called a rat.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney