mistake windmills for giants

English

Etymology

Something to do with Don Quixote... (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

mistake windmills for giants (third-person singular simple present mistakes windmills for giants, present participle mistaking windmills for giants, simple past mistook windmills for giants, past participle mistaken windmills for giants)

  1. (informal, idiomatic) To perceive ordinary, nonthreatening objects or situations as significant dangers or adversaries, often due to an overly romantic, idealistic, or deluded worldview.
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