sing small
verbUK /sɪŋ ˈsmɔːl/ · US /sɪŋ ˈsmɔl/
Etymology From sing + small (“in a small fashion; (obsolete) in a low tone, softly”).
1
Idiomatic To assume a humble tone.
- By all that's good, I muſt myſelf ſing ſmall in her company!—I vvill never meet at hard-edge vvith her— […]1753 (indicated as 1754), [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVII. Miss Byron. In Continuation.”, in The History of Sir Charles Grandison. […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by C. Hitch and L. Hawes, […], →OCLC, page 111:
- Then shoots through my enjoyment / The one sharp drop of gall: / The host—the cur, the heathen— / On 'Baccy singeth small.1877 October, “The Nicotian Lotos-eater. [From the German of Leistner.]”, in Cope’s Tobacco Plant. A Monthly Periodical, Interesting to the Manufactuerer, the Dealer, and the Smoker, volume II, number 91, Liverpool, Lancashire: John Fraser, →OCLC, page 86, column 2:
2
Idiomatic To not say anything; to keep quiet.
- Deutschland sleeps: her star has waned. / France, the Thundress whilome, now / Singeth small, with bated breath.a. 1850 (date written), James Clarence Mangan, “An Invitation”, in Poems […], New York, N.Y.: P. M. Haverty, […], published 1859, →OCLC, page 436:
3
Idiomatic To play a minor part.
4
Obsolete To sing softly.
- [A]re not moſt of our kings being vvhen they ſing ſmall and fine, after a puling maner, ſaluted Apolloes for their muſicke: […]1603, Plutarch, “How a Man may Discerne a Flatterer from a Friend”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, pages 93–94:
- I marvell'd ſhe ſung ſo ſmall indeed, being no Maid.c. 1623–1624 (date written), Tho[mas] Middleton, “Women Beware Women. A Tragedy”, in Two New Playes. […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, […], published 1657, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, page 180:
1 more example
- The Poet culls that dainty flowers; he saileth on the floods; / Leaps with the fountain's ecstacy,^([sic – meaning ecstasy]) and dwelleth in the woods; / Launcheth his barque of hopeful song, nor dreads the roaring fall; / Singing with lark and nightingale, though oft he singeth small.1870, J. P. Robson, “The Poet’s Photograph”, in Evangeline: Or, The Spirit of Progress; […], Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland: […] J. M. Carr, […], →OCLC, page 236:
- Related terms
- play second fiddle