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magnify issues

[ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ ˈɪʃuːz]
verb phrase
ampliar problemas / exagerar problemas
1. to make problems or difficulties appear larger, more serious, or more significant than they actually are; to exaggerate or overstate issues
The media tends to magnify issues during election season.
A mídia tende a ampliar problemas durante a época eleitoral.
2. to increase the importance or severity of a situation through attention or emphasis
Don't magnify issues by constantly bringing them up.
Não amplie os problemas mencionando-os constantemente.
NYC Slang
blow things outta proportion / make a big deal out of nothing
Synonyms
exaggerateoverstateblow out of proportionamplifyinflatedramatize
Antonyms
minimizedownplaydiminishunderstatetrivialize

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ampliar problemas / exagerar problemas
most common usage
Rio de Janeiro
aumentar os problemas / inflar questões
colloquial variant
São Paulo
ampliar questões / dramatizar problemas
formal and informal usage
Portugal
ampliar problemas / exagerar questões
standard European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

make a mountain out of a molehill
blow out of proportion
make much ado about nothing
ampliar os problemas / dar mais importância que merece
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