Definition

Noun: 1. A petty, ridiculous, or absurdly trivial quarrel or conflict; a tempest in a teapot. The word specifically denotes a dispute that is blown far out of proportion to its actual importance, making it laughably insignificant.

Usage

• This is a highly literary, formal, and rare word, often used with a touch of humor or sarcasm to mock the triviality of a conflict.
• It is typically used as a singular noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• "The heated argument over who left the coffee mug in the sink escalated into a full-blown batrachomyomachia."
• "The committee meeting was consumed by a batrachomyomachia concerning the font size on the agenda, delaying any substantive discussion."
• "Their feud began as a minor disagreement but was portrayed in the press as an epic batrachomyomachia."

Advanced Usage

• The word originates from the title of a mock-epic Greek poem, ("The Battle of the Frogs and Mice"), which parodies the grand style of Homer's by applying it to a war between small animals. This origin underscores the core meaning: a grand conflict over something trivial.

Variants and Related Words

• Batrachomyomachy: An alternative, less common noun form with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Tempest in a teapot
• Storm in a teacup
• Much ado about nothing
• Fuss over nothing
• Petty squabble

Idioms and Related Phrases

• To make a mountain out of a molehill: This idiom is a common, everyday equivalent, describing the act of exaggerating a minor problem into a major crisis, which is the essence of a .

Noun

1. a silly altercation