Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large sum of money: The phrase "small fortune" is an idiom used to describe a surprisingly or impressively large amount of money, often in the context of cost, expenditure, or earnings. It is typically used ironically, as the amount is not "small" at all.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • That luxury handbag must have cost a small fortune. (It implies the bag was very expensive.)
  • He spent a small fortune renovating his kitchen. (It means he spent a lot of money on the renovation.)
  • She inherited a small fortune from her aunt. (It means she inherited a large sum of money.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is almost always used with the indefinite article "a" (a small fortune).
• It is commonly used to express that something is very costly or that someone has earned or paid a significant amount.
  • Investing in that startup early on earned them a small fortune.
  • Keeping a racehorse requires a small fortune.

Variants and Related Words

• Fortune (n): A very large amount of money. ("He made his fortune in real estate.")
• A pretty penny (idiom, n): Another informal idiom meaning a large sum of money. ("That car must have cost a pretty penny.")

Synonyms

• A lot of money: A more direct and literal phrase.
• A king's ransom: An idiom for a very large sum of money, often paid as a ransom.
• A hefty sum: Suggests a considerable and substantial amount of money.

Related Phrases

• Cost an arm and a leg (idiom): To be very expensive. ("College tuition costs an arm and a leg.")
• Break the bank (idiom): To cost more than one can afford. ("A weekend at that resort would break the bank.")

Notes on Meaning

• The phrase "small fortune" is an example of litotes or understatement, a figure of speech where something is expressed by negating its opposite or by using a weaker description. Calling a large sum a "small" fortune is intentionally ironic and emphasizes the size of the amount through understatement. It is not used to describe a genuinely small amount of money.

Noun

1. a large sum of money
   • he made a small fortune in the commodities market