federal case
(Redirected from make a federal case out of something)
English edit
Etymology edit
In the United States of America, courts with federal jurisdiction generally are for much more serious offenses than those whose cases are heard by local courts.
Noun edit
federal case (plural federal cases)
- (informal) Any over-exaggerated ordeal.
- So I didn't put the toilet seat down — you don't have to make a federal case out of it.
- 2010, Zachary Klaas, Time Tourists, page 122:
- You think I'm some kind of codependent ditz overwhelmed by reality outside of Catholic school, and I'm not supposed to make a federal case out of it?
Synonyms edit
- (something over-exaggerated): big deal, big thing, production, meal, song and dance
See also edit
References edit
- “federal case”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.