This is an expression for those people who tend to make a big deal out of something of no importance. It literally means “to make a storm inside a glass of water”. If someone is overreacting to a somewhat troublesome situation, we can use this expression to point that out to them. It is a really common expression and you can use anywhere in Brazil. Let’s get to it!
Para uma mulher civilizada, casada há tanto tempo… está fazendo uma tempestade num copo d’água.
For a civilized woman, married for so long… you are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Vocês já terminaram faz 2 anos, por que essa tempestade num copo d’água?
It has been 2 years since you guys broke up, why are you making a mountain out of a molehill?
Mesmo que você tivesse perdido R$ 100,00; você não devia tá fazendo uma tempestade num copo d’água.
Even if you had lost R$ 100.00; you shouldn’t be overreacting like that.
Eu sei que você vai dizer: “Não faça uma tempestade num copo d’ água.”
I know you are going to say “Don’t make mountain out of a molehill.”
Meu pai fazia uma tempestade num copo d’água por qualquer coisa.
My dad used to make a mountain out of a molehill from anything.
Só acho que certas pessoas… quando estão inseguras com relação ao futuro… preferem fazer tempestade num copo d’água do que fazer alguma coisa sobre isso.
I just think that certain people… when they feel insecure about the future… they’d rather make a mountain out of a molehill than do something about it.
Não quero fazer uma tempestade num copo de água… mas a coisa está feia sem uma ajuda minha.
I don’t mean to make a mountain out of a molehill… but things seems ugly without my help.
Ah, sim, ouvi dizer que você ficou toda histérica… e fez uma tempestade num copo d’ água de novo.
Oh, yeah, I heard that you got quite hysterical… and made a mountain out of a molehill again.
Era só um arranhão, mas ela tinha que fazer uma tempestade num copo d’água.
It was just a scratch, but she had to make a mountain out of a molehill.
As you can see, English has a close expression to make a mountain out of a molehill, but we could have translated as to make a bit deal out of, to overreact, and in this specific case even if we had translated literally to make a storm inside a glass of water, I still think people would’ve got the meaning. Translation isn’t important, what is important is that you understood the meaning and now can use one of the my favorite Brazilian idioms. Time to put your knowledge to test.