To Make a Meal out of Something
Today’s phrase is a new one for me, to make a meal out of something. It was brought to my attention from a friend of mine. I am always up for learning something new, so I appreciate it. To make a meal out of something is when you take a simple task or explanation and make it needlessly complex or long.
Example: Just write me a simple letter, don’t make a meal out of it.
It seems that this phrase is mostly used in a negative context. It is often preceded with the warning, DON’T (as in “don’t make a meal out of it.”) However, it can also be used in a positive sense as well. Perhaps someone can make a meal out of a task that they enjoy.
Example: He really made a meal out of that speech.
To make a meal out of something dates to the 19th century. It is an allusion to sitting down to eat an elaborate feast when a simple snack would fill your stomach.
This phrase seems similar to “don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.” A mole is a small rodent that digs holes. The displacement of soil leads to very small hills in the soil. So, if you make a mountain out of that mole hill, you are trying to make it sound like the molehill is much more impressive than it actually is. While “don’t make a mountain out of a molehill” is often used to caution someone against exaggeration, “don’t make a meal out of it” appears to warn the listener against doing too much.
British people, tell me if I went wrong. I am unsure about the positive meaning of this phrase and would appreciate a fuller understanding of this idiom.
For more English phrases and quotes, follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ESL-ToyBox-112152010890485
Reference:
https://idiomorigins.org/origin/make-a-meal-of-something