out of proportion

1. Also, out of all proportion. Not in proper relation to other things, especially by being the wrong size or amount. For example, This vase looks out of proportion on this small table, or Her emotional response was out of all proportion to the circumstances. The noun proportion means “an agreeable or harmonious relationship of one thing relative to another.” [Early 1700s] The antonym in proportion dates from the late 1600s and also refers either to physical size or appropriate degree, as in The bird's wings are huge in proportion to its body, or Her willingness to believe him stands in direct proportion to her love for intrigue.

Example Sentences

But the series was named in a lawsuit where some contestants claimed they'd been "exploited" during filming - allegations Donaldson said had been "blown out of proportion".

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They said prosecutors on the case "have lost all perspective" by advocating for an enhanced sentence that is "wildly out of proportion".

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And he defended Cantlay's decision not to wear a cap in Rome, telling BBC Sport: "We blew this way out of proportion. We got him a hat that fits, he wore it, no big deal."

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Because pain itself is generated in the brain, not the body’s tissues, it can be wildly out of proportion to any physical damage, an amplifier that transforms a whisper into a distorted shriek.

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But while it has touched a nerve for many people who are at high risk for skin cancer simply by virtue of being Australian, Dr Wong said she felt the panic triggered by the investigation was blown out of proportion.

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Related Words

• absolute 
• dire 
• drastic 
• egregious 
• exaggerated 
• exceptional 
• excessive 
• extraordinary 
• harsh 
• irrational 
• outrageous 
• radical 
• remarkable 
• severe 
• sheer 
• unreasonable 
• unusual 
• utter