employ a steam engine to crack a nut
To use excessive, overcomplicated, or extravagant means or force to accomplish something relatively minor or simple. With this new system of issuing licenses, the government has employed a steam engine to crack a nut: four separate departments now handle each stage of an application, when a single department could easily process applications from start to finish. A: "Why is the head of Employment making ID badges? That's usually an intern's job." B: "Beats me. They sure like to employ a steam engine to crack a nut around here." If you need someone, just go find them—it's not like the house is that big. Adding an intercom system would be like employing a steam engine to crack a nut!
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