견문발검

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Korean

Molehills may look like mountains.

Etymology

Sino-Korean 見 + 蚊 + 拔 + 劒. ^[1] Literally, to "see a mosquito and draw a sword"

Proverb

견문발검 • (gyeonmunbalgeom)

(hyperbole) to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Usage notes

You may recall Don Quixote to make a giant out of a windmill.

Synonyms

노승발검 (怒蠅拔劒, no-seung-bal-geom) ^[2] Literally, to "be angry at a fly and draw a sword"

See also

침소봉대 (針小棒大, chim-so-bong-dae) ^[3] Literally, "pin-thin goes stick-thick"

References

^ "모기를 보고 칼을 뺀다는 뜻으로, 사소한 일에 크게 성내어 덤빔을 이르는 말." http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=1947000
^ "성가시게 구는 파리를 보고 화가 나서 칼을 뺀다는 뜻으로, 사소한 일에 화를 내거나 또는 작은 일에 어울리지 않게 커다란 대책을 세움을 비유적으로 이르는 말." http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=7646400
^ "작은 일을 크게 불리어 떠벌림." http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=38441700

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