federal case

federal case
1. a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of a federal court or a federal law-enforcement agency.
2. make a federal case of or out of, Informal. to exaggerate the importance of or make an issue out of (something trivial).
[1950-55]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • federal case — I. noun : an act or activity that is or is likely to be subject to investigation by one of the criminal investigation agencies (as the FBI) of the United States government II. noun : a matter or situation that through emphasis or exaggeration… …   Useful english dictionary

  • federal case — fed′eral case′ n. 1) cvb gov a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of a federal court 2) cvb idi make a federal case oforout of, inf to exaggerate the importance of • Etymology: 1950–55 …   From formal English to slang

  • federal case — noun Date: 1955 big deal < don t make a federal case out of it > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • federal case — noun Any over exaggerated ordeal. So I didnt put the toilet seat down you dont have to make a federal case out of it. Syn: mountain out of a molehill …   Wiktionary

  • make a federal case out of — US informal : to become very upset or angry about (something that is not important) I agree that he shouldn t have said that, but there s no reason to make a federal case out of it. [=make a big deal about it] Do you have to make a federal case… …   Useful english dictionary

  • make a federal case (out) of (something) — American to make something seem more important or serious than it really is. He only swore at you there s no need to make a federal case out of it! (usually negative) …   New idioms dictionary

  • make a federal case out of something — tv. to exaggerate the importance of an error; to overdo something. □ Do you have to make a federal case out of everything? □ I only spilled my milk. Why make a federal case out of it? …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • make a federal case of it — make it too important, make a mountain...    Okay, so I used your hair dryer! Don t make a federal case of it …   English idioms

  • Don’t make a federal case out of it! — sent. Don’t make such a fuss!; This isn’t as important as you are making it. □ So, I dropped a whole dozen eggs! I’ll clean it up. Don’t make a federal case out of it! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • Federal Trade Commission — Infobox Government agency agency name = Federal Trade Commission logo = logo width = logo caption = seal width = 150 px seal caption = Official seal formed = September 26, 1914 preceding1 = Bureau of Corporations jurisdiction = Federal government …   Wikipedia

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