molehill

[ mohl-hil ]

/ ˈmoʊlˌhɪl /

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

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

Origin of molehill

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at mole¹, hill

In both cases, the minority party on both committees thinks the majority is making a mountain out of a molehill.

From Waterboarding to Benghazi, CIA Faces Two-Front War by Congress |Eli Lake |April 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But is this merely a case of making a mountain out of a molehill—or is there a legitimate reason to be upset?

The Uproar Over No Doubt’s Native American Video Gaffe |Tricia Romano |November 6, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Few diplomatic events are more embarrassing than a summit that turns into a molehill.

The War Over the Global Stimulus |Stryker McGuire |March 13, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
As regards his being over London, you've got to make a molehill out of that mountain, if it is a mountain.

A Case in Camera |Oliver Onions

If they continue to be the same, I shall think that we have been making a mountain of a molehill.

Grace Harlowe's First Year at Overton College |Jessie Graham Flower
A formal apology and reconciliation will, in his judgment, dignify the episode and make a mountain out of a molehill.

The Eugenic Marriage, Vol. 3 (of 4) |W. Grant Hague
As he looks, a little rivulet expands into an impassable gulf, and a molehill becomes a mountain.

The Religious Life of London |J. Ewing Ritchie
I soon found my pride was a molehill and my love a mountain.

Hard Cash |Charles Reade

molehill

/ (ˈməʊlˌhɪl) /

the small mound of earth thrown up by a burrowing mole

make a mountain out of a molehill to exaggerate an unimportant matter out of all proportion

molehill

see make a mountain out of a molehill.