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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

small potatoes en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

A specialization of a sense of potato meaning a thing of little value, and a comment on the low value of a small potato in particular, appearing in its modern form in North America in the mid-19th century (see 1855 quotation).

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, plural, plural-only) One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
    • The queen may have outwitted Otto, but he’s small potatoes compared to a master opponent like the Lady of Driftmark. 2022 October 16, Jenna Scherer, “An enticing House Of The Dragon crowns Westeros' new ruler”, in AV Club:
    • It's small potatoes for a man-o-war to be hunting poor game, like us little fore and afters." 1855, Thomas Chandler Haliburton, “Unlocking a Woman's Heart”, in Nature and Human Nature, volume 1, page 38:
    • He no longer works for individuals, since they are small potatoes compared to his corporate clients.
    • My paycheck is small potatoes compared to hers.

Antonyms

some pumpkins

Synonyms

small beer · peanuts · small fry · no one · nobody