make it a federal case —(also: make a federal case out of it) complain too much; exaggerate the importance of smth.:
- I’m not the only person in the family who smokes, but they’re going to make it a federal case.
make out a case for something—(also: make a case for something) give good reasons why smth. should be done:
- He said he was an atheist but he never debated the subject with me and never made out a case for atheism.