small potatoes
Definition
Phrase (idiomatic)
- Something insignificant or of little value: "small potatoes" refers to people, things, or matters that are considered unimportant, trivial, or minor in comparison to others.
Usage Examples
- (The loss is insignificant relative to larger earnings.)
- (He treated the criticism as trivial and not worth attention.)
- (The bank is considered unimportant or minor.)
Advanced Usage
"Small potatoes" as a comparative phrase: Often used to downplay the importance of something by contrasting it with something larger or more significant.
- The budget cuts for our department are small potatoes next to the layoffs in the main office. (The cuts are minor compared to the layoffs.)
"Small potatoes" in negative constructions: Can be used to assert that something is not trivial.
- This may seem like small potatoes, but every donation helps. (Although small, it still matters.)
Variants and Related Words
Small fry (phrase): similar meaning — someone or something of little importance.
- The local gang is small fry compared to the international cartel. (The gang is insignificant.)
Small beer (British English): also means something trivial or unimportant.
- The scandal was small beer in the grand scheme of things. (It was minor.)
Synonyms
- Trivial: of little value or importance.
- Insignificant: too small or unimportant to be worth considering.
- Minor: lesser in importance, size, or degree.
Related Idioms
A drop in the bucket: a very small amount compared to what is needed.
- The donation was a drop in the bucket for the massive project. (It was insufficient.)
Small change: something of little value or importance.
- The argument was just small change in their long friendship. (It was unimportant.)
Etymology and Usage Notes
- The phrase "small potatoes" originated in American English in the early 19th century, likely from the literal meaning of small, unmarketable potatoes being of little worth. It is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.