To pick a fight over trivial matters; to get excessively angry or make a fuss about small faults.
彼女は同僚の言い間違いにいちいち目くじらを立てるタイプだ。
She is the type to get worked up over every slip of the tongue by colleagues.
小さな汚れで目くじらを立てるのはやめて、全体を見よう。
Stop making a fuss over small stains and look at the whole picture.
親が目くじらを立てると子どもが委縮してしまうことがある。
If parents make a big fuss over minor issues, children may become discouraged.