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Делать из мухи слона (Delat' iz mukhi slona)

Meaning: To blow things way out of proportion.

Language: Russian

Literally: To make an elephant out of a fly

Category: Animals

Origin: Russian version of 'making a mountain out of a molehill.'

More idioms — Animals

  • 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín) — Reasoning with someone who cannot understand.
  • 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) — To ruin something by adding unnecessary extras.
  • 鸡同鸭讲 (jī tóng yā jiǎng) — Complete miscommunication; talking past each other.
  • 老虎屁股摸不得 (Lǎohǔ pìgu mō bu dé) — Don't provoke someone powerful or dangerous.
  • Det finns ingen ko på isen — There's nothing to worry about.
  • Engolir sapos — To put up with unpleasant things without complaining.

More Russian idioms

  • душа нараспашку (dusha naraspashku) — Extremely open, trusting, or emotionally vulnerable with others.
  • работать спустя рукава (rabotat' spustya rukava) — To work carelessly, half-heartedly, without proper effort or attention.
  • заморить червячка (zamorit' chervyachka) — To have a light snack or small meal to satisfy hunger temporarily.
  • медведь на ухо наступил (medved' na ukho nastupil) — To lack musical ability or have poor sense of pitch and rhythm.
  • пускать пыль в глаза (puskat' pyl' v glaza) — To deceive or mislead someone, creating false impressions through trickery.
  • Ни пуха ни пера (Ni pukha ni pera) — Good luck — to which the ritual reply is 'To the devil!'.

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