Out of proportion.

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Ashraful Haque

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I thought 'out of proportion' meant- lacking the correct or appropriate relationship with the size, shape, or position of (some other part of the same thing). For example, 'his ears were drawn out of proportion with his head.'

Until I came across the meaning- "If you get something out of proportion, you think it is more important or worrying than it really is. If you keep something in proportion, you have a realistic view of how important it is." For example, 'when you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get things out of proportion.' - What does it really mean?

A few examples would really help me understand the meaning.
 
Ashraful Haque said:
For example, 'when you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get things out of proportion.' - What does it really mean?
Click to expand...
The meaning should be apparent from the line you quoted:
Ashraful Haque said:
"If you get something out of proportion, you think it is more important or worrying than it really is.
Click to expand...

It means that when you're depressed, you're likely to let things make a greater (or sometimes lesser) impression on you than they should. The impression they make on you is not in proportion to (is not equivalent to) their actual importance. You might take an unimportant thing much more seriously than it deserves, and therefore you consider it disproportionately, or out of proportion.

I should think the meaning is apparent from the context, considering you don't seem to be a rank beginner.
 
Some excellent examples can be found here.

Example:

Ashrafel Haque: “The moderators found several errors in my last post. They must really have it in for me. I know they dislike me.​

Amigos4: “Relax, Ash! Perhaps the moderators are just trying to help you learn how to use proper English. Don’t blow this out of proportion. It’s not the end of the world!” ;)​

 
The definitions here should give you an idea of the range of meanings proportion can onvey.
 
Amigos4 said:
Some excellent examples can be found here.

Example:

Ashrafel Haque: “The moderators found several errors in my last post. They must really have it in for me. I know they dislike me.​

Amigos4: “Relax, Ash! Perhaps the moderators are just trying to help you learn how to use proper English. Don’t blow this out of proportion. It’s not the end of the world!” ;)​

Click to expand...
Would the sentence work if I replaced 'blow' with 'get'?

Ashrafel Haque: “The moderators found several errors in my last post. They must really have it in for me. I know they dislike me.

Amigos4: “Relax, Ash! Perhaps the moderators are just trying to help you learn how to use proper English. Don’t get this out of proportion. It’s not the end of the world!” ;)

(BTW. I love being corrected. And I absolutely love the moderates here 😁)
 
Don't read too much into it (what the moderators have said).
 
Barque said:
No. Why would you want to change it?
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Because my original sentence had 'get.'
'When you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get things out of proportion.'
 
Ashraful Haque said:
Can you think of a context where 'get' and 'blow' wouldn't be interchangeable?
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Are you talking about the context of "get/blow out of all proportion" or are you suggesting that "get" and "blow" are interchangeable in any sentence?
 
Ashraful Haque said:
Because my original sentence had 'get.'
'When you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get things out of proportion.'
Click to expand...
Your original sentence had a different meaning and a different context.
Ashraful Haque said:
Can you think of a context where 'get' and 'blow' wouldn't be interchangeable?
Click to expand...
I suspect you mean "would" and not "wouldn't", in the context of "out of proportion". There could be some, though I can't think of one offhand.
 
emsr2d2 said:
Are you talking about the context of "get/blow out of all proportion" or are you suggesting that "get" and "blow" are interchangeable in any sentence?
Click to expand...
The context we're talking about of course.
'When you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get/blow things out of proportion.'
 
Barque said:
Your original sentence had a different meaning and a different context.

I suspect you mean "would" and not "wouldn't", in the context of "out of proportion". There could be some, though I can't think of one offhand.
Click to expand...
'When you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get/blow things out of proportion.'
I think both 'get' and 'blow' can be used here without changing the meaning. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.
 
"Blow" seems a stronger word than "get" and I think it's more likely to be used when speaking about a specific matter than about matters in general. Don't take this as a rule. It depends on each sentence and the context.

Ashraful Haque said:
'When you’re depressed, it’s very easy to get/blow things out of proportion.'
Click to expand...
I prefer "get" here.
 
Thank you for all the answers. I have another question. This time it's about the literal meaning- 'lacking the correct or appropriate relationship with the size, shape, or position of.'

- The sculpture seemed out of proportion with/to its surroundings.
- His ears were drawn out of proportion with/to his head.

I saw sentences with both 'with' and 'to.' I pretty sure they aren't interchangeable in all cases. But are they interchangeable in most cases?
 
You could say "in relation to", but not "to". Proportions are always relative.
 
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