- Home
- Idioms
- mountain
mountain
have a mountain to climb
To have an extremely difficult, seemingly impossible task at hand. After losing Ohio to his opponent, the president now has a mountain to climb if he wants to hold on to his job.
have snow on the mountain
To have silver, grey, or white hair on one's head, as due to aging. Sure, I may have a bit of snow on the mountain, but I still lead as adventurous a life as I ever have!
snow on the mountain
Silver, grey, or white hair on one's head, as due to aging. Sure, there's a bit of snow on the mountain, but I still lead as adventurous a life as I ever have!
mountain oysters
A food made from animal testicles, often those of a sheep or calf. A: "Let's get some mountain oysters!" B: "Are you sure? Did you read the description in menu?"
mountain to climb
A very difficult task or challenge. You certainly have a mountain to climb if you intend to get this project done by Thursday.
Faith will move mountains.
Prov. If you believe in what you are doing, you can overcome any obstacle. (Sometimes refers to faith in God.) Jane's faith in her cause could move mountains. You may feel disheartened sometimes, but remember that faith will move mountains.
If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain.
Prov. If things do not change the way you want them to, you must adjust to the way they are. (Mohammed is often used instead of Mahomet. Also the mountain has come to Mahomet, something or someone that you would not expect to travel has arrived. There are many variations of this proverb. See the examples.) The president won't see me so I will have to go to his office. If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain. If Caroline can't leave the hospital on her birthday, we'll have to take her birthday party to the hospital. If the mountain won't come to Mahomet, Mahomet will have to go to the mountain. It's true I don't usually leave my home, but if you can't come to see me, I'll have to come see you. The mountain will come to Mohammed.
make a mountain out of a molehill
Cliché to make a major issue out of a minor one; to exaggerate the importance of something. Come on, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. It's not that important. Mary is always making mountains out of molehills.
make a mountain out of a molehill
also make a molehill into a mountain to cause something simple to seem much more difficult or important
McAleer knows there's a mistake in the book and promised to correct it, but Rosen continues to complain about it - she's really trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. Clever lawyers can make a molehill into a mountain. Usage notes: sometimes used in the form make a molehill out of a mountain (to cause something difficult to be much easier): By dividing up a big assignment and working on it a little bit every day, you can make a molehill out of a mountain.
move mountains
to achieve something difficult Voters in his district have always recognized their representative's ability to move mountains.
If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed.
something that you say which means that if someone will not come to you, you have to go to them
Usage notes: This phrase comes from a story about Mohammed who was asked to show how powerful he was by making a mountain come to him.
They never visit me now they have a family. Well, if Mohammed won't go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed. a mountain to climb
(British & Australian) something that is very difficult to do After a bad start to the season, the team has a mountain to climb if they want to win the league.
make a mountain out of a molehill
to make a slight difficulty seem like a serious problem (usually in continuous tenses) You're making a mountain out of a molehill. You wrote one bad essay - it doesn't mean you're going to fail your degree.
move mountains
1. if someone or someone's beliefs or feelings can move mountains, they can achieve something that is very difficult If faith can move mountains, we'll win the Cup.
2. if you would move mountains for someone, they are so important to you that you would do anything to please them He'd move mountains for her but she treats him like dirt.
if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain
If one can't have one's way, one must give in. For example, Since you can't come here for the holiday, I'll go to your house-if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain . This expression is based on a tale that Muhammad once sought proof of his teachings by ordering a mountain to come to him. When it did not move, he maintained that God had been merciful, for if it had indeed moved they all would have been crushed by it. [Late 1500s]
make a mountain out of a molehill
Exaggerate trifling difficulties, as in If you forgot you racket you can borrow one-don't make a mountain out of a molehill. This expression, alluding to the barely raised tunnels created by moles, was first recorded in John Fox's The Book of Martyrs (1570).
make a mountain
and pitch a tent n. to have a morning erection that raises the covers; to have an erection that makes a bulge in one’s clothing; to get an erection. Bobby makes a mountain almost every morning. When I was in the hospital, I was afraid I would pitch a tent in the morning.
(mountain) dew
1. n. Scotch whiskey. The real mountain dew is smoky-tasting and amber.
2. n. illicit liquor; any liquor. Mountain dew is what I want. As long as it’s not store bought.
make a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate a minor problem.