Signification
To exaggerate a small problem.
Contexte culturel
In Croatia, people are generally very expressive. Using this idiom is a socially acceptable way to tell someone to 'chill out' without being overly rude, especially among friends. Across the Balkans, the 'elephant' is a symbol of something massive and heavy. The contrast with a 'fly' highlights the absurdity of the person's mental state. In coastal Croatia (Dalmatia), there is a concept called 'fjaka' (laziness/relaxation). This idiom is often used to protect one's 'fjaka' from someone else's unnecessary stress. Due to the shared history with Austria and Hungary, many idioms like this one are identical to German ones, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage.
The 'Nemoj' Trick
The easiest way to use this is as a command: 'Nemoj raditi od muhe slona!' It works in 90% of situations.
Don't be rude
Using this with a superior (like your boss) can be risky as it implies they are being irrational.
Signification
To exaggerate a small problem.
The 'Nemoj' Trick
The easiest way to use this is as a command: 'Nemoj raditi od muhe slona!' It works in 90% of situations.
Don't be rude
Using this with a superior (like your boss) can be risky as it implies they are being irrational.
Drama vs. Reality
Croatians love a good story, so sometimes people 'work from a fly an elephant' just to make a story more interesting!
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing words in the correct case.
Nemoj raditi od ______ (muha) ______ (slon)!
After 'od' we use Genitive (muhe), and the object is Accusative (slona).
Which sentence is the most natural way to tell a friend to stop being dramatic?
Tvoj prijatelj plače jer je izgubio 1 euro. Što ćeš mu reći?
Option A is the correct idiom for exaggeration. Option B is reversed. Option C means nitpicking. Option D means planning without the boss.
Match the situation to the idiom.
Situation: Someone is panicking because they forgot to bring a napkin to a picnic.
Panicking over a napkin is a classic case of making an elephant out of a fly.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Šef je poludio jer kasnim 2 minute!' B: 'Ma daj, on uvijek ______.'
The context of a boss overreacting to 2 minutes fits the idiom perfectly.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesNemoj raditi od ______ (muha) ______ (slon)!
After 'od' we use Genitive (muhe), and the object is Accusative (slona).
Tvoj prijatelj plače jer je izgubio 1 euro. Što ćeš mu reći?
Option A is the correct idiom for exaggeration. Option B is reversed. Option C means nitpicking. Option D means planning without the boss.
Situation: Someone is panicking because they forgot to bring a napkin to a picnic.
Panicking over a napkin is a classic case of making an elephant out of a fly.
A: 'Šef je poludio jer kasnim 2 minute!' B: 'Ma daj, on uvijek ______.'
The context of a boss overreacting to 2 minutes fits the idiom perfectly.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, 'praviti' and 'raditi' are both perfectly correct and used interchangeably.
It can be dismissive. Use it with friends, but be careful with strangers or bosses.
Because it's the largest animal people traditionally knew, providing the biggest contrast to a tiny fly.
You can just say 'Ne drami!' (Don't drama!), which is more informal.
No, in this idiom, they stay in these forms (Genitive and Accusative).
No, if you say 'making a whale out of a fly,' people will understand but know you're not a native speaker.
Yes, very often in headlines to describe political overreactions.
To make a mountain out of a molehill.
No, it is almost exclusively used for negative overreactions or problems.
The vocabulary is A1, but the figurative meaning is usually taught at A2 or B1.
Expressions liées
Tražiti dlaku u jajetu
similarTo look for a hair in an egg.
Praviti dramu
synonymTo make a drama.
Preuveličavati
synonymTo exaggerate.
Smanjiti doživljaj
contrastTo lower the experience/intensity.
