Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small amount of money, especially coins of low value: Refers to money in the form of coins or a very minor sum, often carried for minor purchases.
   • An insignificant or trivial amount: Used figuratively to describe something of little value, importance, or consequence.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • I need some small change for the parking meter.
  • He gave the beggar a handful of small change.
  • The cost of the coffee is just small change to him.
  • Compared to the overall budget, that expense is mere small change.

Advanced Usage

• "To not have two pennies/beans to rub together": To be very poor. (Note: This idiom describes poverty, while "small change" is the physical money a poor person might lack).
• "Chicken feed": A very small amount of money, similar to "small change" in its figurative sense.
  • The bonus they offered was chicken feed compared to the profits we made.

Variants and Related Words

• Loose change (n): Coins, typically carried in a pocket or purse.
  • I found some loose change in my coat pocket.
• Petty cash (n): A small amount of cash kept on hand for minor expenses.
  • We can reimburse you from the petty cash fund.

Synonyms

• Coins: Metal money.
• Trifle: A thing of little value or importance.
• Pittance: A very small or inadequate amount of money.

Related Phrases

• Small-time (adj): Insignificant or minor in scope or importance. (Note: This is a compound adjective, not a direct variant of "small change").
  • He was just a small-time crook.

Related Idioms

• "To be small change": To be insignificant or unimportant in comparison.
  • His complaints are small change compared to the real problems we face.
• "Pin money": A small amount of money for incidental expenses (historically for a woman's personal use).
  • She earns a bit of pin money by selling her crafts.

Noun

1. a trifling sum of money