federal case

noun
1.
a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of a federal court or a federal law-enforcement agency.
Idioms
2.
make a federal case (out) of, Informal. to exaggerate the importance of or make an issue out of (something trivial).
Origin
1950-55
Slang definitions & phrases for make a federal case of

federal case

Related Terms

make a federal case out of something


Idioms and Phrases with make a federal case of

make a federal case of

Also, make a big deal of . Give undue importance to an issue, as in I'll pay you back next week—you needn't make a federal case of it , or Jack is making a big deal of filling out his passport application . The first hyperbolic expression, almost always used in a negative context, alludes to taking a legal action before a high (federal) court. The second alludes to an important business transaction (see big deal , def. 1).