Wróblem wyleci, wołem wróci

English translation: Making a mountain out of a molehill

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Polish term or phrase:Wróblem wyleci, wołem wróci
English translation:Making a mountain out of a molehill

18:47 Mar 4, 2017
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2017-03-07 19:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


Polish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Other / Proverbs
Polish term or phrase: Wróblem wyleci, wołem wróci
Guys, I came up with the "Snowballing Effect" (this is for a title of an article), but where it covers one aspect of the original - growing big - it misses the second aspect, of getting distorted and changed. I need something that would cover both the size and the distortion. Any ideas?
Mikolaj Korzistka
United States
Local time: 12:45
Making a mountain out of a molehill
Explanation:
This would be the equivalent.

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Note added at 4 mins (2017-03-04 18:52:14 GMT)
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Based on the meaning provided here: http://www.wsjp.pl/index.php?id_hasla=7701

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Note added at 10 mins (2017-03-04 18:57:55 GMT)
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Or "chinese whispers" might be a better choice.
http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/c...
Selected response from:

The Kat (X)
United States
Local time: 13:45
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2Making a mountain out of a molehill
The Kat (X)
3changing a fly into an elephant
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
1A little fire is quickly trodden out
Jacek Kloskowski
1great oaks grow from little acorns
geopiet


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Making a mountain out of a molehill


Explanation:
This would be the equivalent.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2017-03-04 18:52:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Based on the meaning provided here: http://www.wsjp.pl/index.php?id_hasla=7701

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2017-03-04 18:57:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or "chinese whispers" might be a better choice.
http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/c...

The Kat (X)
United States
Local time: 13:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks
Notes to answerer
Asker: Love it! Thanks!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  magdadh: perfectly idiomatic - chinese whispers in itself = distortion, not magnification. Maybe a case of Chinese whispers that make a mountain out of a molehill? ;)
3 hrs
  -> Thank you, Magda. I like the combination! ;-)

agree  Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
3 days 1 hr
  -> Thank you. :-)
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49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
changing a fly into an elephant


Explanation:
Propozycja.

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
Local time: 13:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 536
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
A little fire is quickly trodden out


Explanation:
The opposite of allowing something to grow out of proportion by not acting:

Meaning: If you deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue.

OR: "Tall oaks grow from little acorns"

Jacek Kloskowski
United States
Local time: 13:45
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 74
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
great oaks grow from little acorns


Explanation:
wiadomości i plotki - w miarę przekazywania - stają się wyolbrzymione - http://www.wsjp.pl/index.php?id_hasla=7701

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Something of small or modest proportions may grow into something very large or impressive - https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/great_oaks_from...

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today's gossip is tomorrow's headline
- https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/walterwinc112883...

geopiet
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 199
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