Dictionary

little old en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (Southern-US, US, idiomatic, informal, not-comparable) Emphatically, affectionately, or humorously little; ordinary or harmless (especially when trying to downplay the importance of something).
   • A: I love your dress! B: What, this little old thing?
   • While still marveling over the magnificent overtime victory his team had over St. John's Sunday, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski turned immediately to worrying about what was ahead. […] Duke plays a little old game against North Carolina tonight. 1999, “College Basketball: Men's Roundup; Jarvis Keeps His Focus on Tough Road Ahead”, in New York Times:
   • Last time I seen you, you was a little old girl / I had a crush now we grown and we still so thorough 2010, J. Cole, Friday Night Lights (mixtape), "You Got It" lyrics
   • Well, you nice people, I'm going to let you in on a secret and show you why this kitchen knife is the best little ole product you can get. 1992, Henry I. Christ, Building Power in Reading, page 131:
   • Christine Roberts Presley: Elvis was the best little ol' thing. He was so polite. 1995, Rose Clayton, editor, Elvis Up Close: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best, page 13:
   • Well aren't you just a little old sweetheart?
   • We Texans have always bragged about having the best little old this and the best little old that. 1976, Richard West, “The Best of Texas”, in Texas Monthly, volume 4, number 7, page 103:
   • [Pogo:] I'm takin' care of this li'l' ol' backward child. 1949 May 16, Walt Kelly, Pogo (comic strip):
   • How about a little old game of pool?
   • You brought the best little old news you'll ever tote. Secretario, if you never promulgate worse news than that, you'll boost your circulation a thousand a day. 1909, Rowland Thomas, The Little Gods, page 280:
   • They found afterward to their regret that he was the finest little old poker player that ever struck the village and he carried away a suitcase of yellow-backed bills. 1915 August 14, Roy K. Moulton, “On the Spur of the Moment: Appearances”, in The Day (New London), page 9:
2. (not-comparable) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see little, old.
   • This joke is getting a little old.

Forms

Antonyms

big ole · big old · big ol'

Deriveds

little old me · little old lady · little old moi

Translations (8)

es menudo (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · es nimio (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · fi pikku (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · es ínfimo (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · es parvo (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · pl malutki (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · es irrisorio (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously) · es baladí (little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously)