Storm in teacup from "summary" of McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs by Richard A. Spears
Making a big deal out of something small or insignificant is often referred to as 'a storm in a teacup'. This idiom is used to describe an emotional reaction or situation which is exaggeratedly dramatic or intense relative to its cause.- From time to time, situations get manipulated and words get thrown around carelessly. Whenever this happens, it's easy too make a fuss about nothing - exactly like blowing up a whirlwind in a tea-cup!
- Even if the problem seems small and insignificant, people still sometimes tend to exaggerate its impact and create a drama out of it – like trying to churn up a storm in a tiny cup!
- Brewing trouble out of nothing is like making a storm in a teacup. No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to do serious damage with so limited resources!
- It's human nature to take minor issues too seriously and turn them into bigger headaches than necessary. It doesn't take a lot of effort to rack up an issue like inducing a hurricane inside a mug!
- When something that can be dealt with easily gets inflated to giant proportions, there’s a great risk of a needless show being manufactured - much like making a mountain out of a molehill or stirring up a maelstrom in a cup!
