batrachomyomachia

9.9

A silly, small argument that people make much bigger

noun
/ˌbætrəˌkoʊmiˈoʊməkiə/

Archaic

: batrachomyomachia

Their argument over the best pizza toppings was just a batrachomyomachia.

Examples

Their argument about who should make the coffee was nothing more than a batrachomyomachia.
The committee's endless debate over punctuation became a classic batrachomyomachia.
Let's not turn this minor issue into a batrachomyomachia.
I can't believe they got into a batrachomyomachia over such a small issue.
The committee's endless debate over punctuation became a classic batrachomyomachia.
I can't believe they got into a batrachomyomachia over such a small issue.
Their argument about who should make the coffee was nothing more than a batrachomyomachia.

Synonyms

squabble

vsbatrachomyomachia

Informal

27 4.2

A noisy argument about something unimportant

is a quarrel that is silly and often exaggerated

tempest in a teapot

vsbatrachomyomachia

Informal

3 7.9

Too much fuss about a small, unimportant thing

is a silly quarrel often blown out of proportion

petty argument

vsbatrachomyomachia

1 3.0

A small disagreement about something unimportant

is a quarrel prone to being blown out of proportion

Mickey Mouse affair

vsbatrachomyomachia

Informal

7.8

An unimportant event that people do not take seriously

is specifically a silly quarrel rather than any trivial event

Antonyms

dispute

384 3.0

A serious argument about something important that lasts a long time

How Serious

battle

∞ 1.4

to fight

∞ 1.0

quarrel

61 2.0

batrachomyomachia

Archaic

9.9

spat

24 3.7

to fuss

19 2.8

Surface Forms

batrachomyomachia singular

batrachomyomachias plural

Etymology

Batrachomyomachia comes from Greek parts batracho- 'frog', myo- 'mouse', and -machia 'battle', so it literally means a 'battle of frogs and mice'. So, batrachomyomachia is a funny image for a tiny, silly fight that people make much bigger than it really is.