originally, dispatch a large army; now, mobilize many people; make a fuss over nothing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to dispatch a large army (archaic); to mobilize a large number of people (modern); to make a mountain out of a molehill
formalOriginally a military term. Now predominantly used with a negative or critical connotation, implying an action is disproportionate to the need, wasting resources and effort.
Zhǐ只
shì是
dǎ打
sǎo扫
yī一
gè个
fáng房
jiān间
ér而
yǐ已
，
hé何
bì必
láo老
shī师
dòng动
zhòng众
，
bǎ把
quán全
jiā家
rén人
dōu都
jiào叫
lái来
。
It's just cleaning one room; why make such a big deal and call the whole family over?
Zhè这
gè个
xiàng项
mù目
qǐ启
dòng动
huì会
jìng竟
láo老
shī师
dòng动
zhòng众
de地
qǐng请
le了
jǐ几
shí十
wèi位
lǐng领
dǎo导
，
shí实
zài在
méi没
yǒu有
bì必
yào要
。
For this project kick-off meeting, they made a huge fuss by inviting dozens of leaders, which was completely unnecessary.
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Gǔ古
dài代
zhàn战
zhēng争
yǒu有
shí时
wèi为
le了
yī一
zuò座
chéng城
chí池
ér而
láo老
shī师
dòng动
zhòng众
。
In ancient warfare, they sometimes dispatched large armies just for a single city.