to make something seem more important than it actually is I thought the picture of him wearing a dress was pretty funny, but the local newspapers blew it out of all proportion.
Usage notes: often used with other adverbs to make a stronger statement: This case has been blown totally out of proportion. She blew the figures way out of proportion.
to behave as if something that has happened is much worse than it really is They had a minor argument in a restaurant but the press have blown it out of all proportion, speculating about divorce.