The shelf / Size / Ancient Greek
ANCIENT GREEK
ἐλέφαντα ἐκ μυίας ποιεῖν
“To make an elephant out of a fly.”
MEANS
To make a big deal out of something small.
The elephant came first
Lucian already called it a proverb in the 2nd century. In 1548 Nicholas Udall wrote both versions in one sentence. English kept the molehill.
Source: Suda On Line (Lucian), Wikipedia (Udall, 1548).
On the label: A mountain out of a molehill
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The same idea, elsewhere
From “A mountain out of a molehill” to Ancient Greek.
ENGLISHMake a mountain out of a molehill.The one you know.Nicholas Udall, 1548 (Wikipedia, Cambridge).
GERMANAus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen.“Make an elephant out of a mosquito.”Duden.
DUTCHVan een mug een olifant maken.“Make an elephant out of a mosquito.”Native speaker; European School Education Academy.
CZECHDělat z komára velblouda.“Make a camel out of a mosquito.”Živa, journal of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
ROMANIANA face din țânțar armăsar.“Make a stallion out of a mosquito.”dex.ro. It rhymes.