mountain (redirected from Mountains)

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.

See also: faith, move

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.

See also: come, if, must

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.

See also: make, out

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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.

See also: climb

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.

See also: come, if, must

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.

See also: make, out

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.

See also: move

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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.

Related vocabulary: blow something out of (all) proportion

See also: make, out

move mountains

to achieve something difficult Voters in his district have always recognized their representative's ability to move mountains.

See also: move