federal case

In the United States of America, courts with federal jurisdiction generally are for much more serious offenses than those whose cases are heard by local courts.

• "So I didn't put the toilet seat down — you don't have to make a federal case out of it."
• "You think I'm some kind of codependent ditz overwhelmed by reality outside of Catholic school, and I'm not supposed to make a federal case out of it?"

• big deal
• big thing
• production
• meal
• song and dance