small potatoes
nounEtymology 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).
1
Idiomatic One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
- My paycheck is small potatoes compared to hers.
- He no longer works for individuals, since they are small potatoes compared to his corporate clients.
2 more examples
- 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:
- 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:
- Synonyms
- peanuts, small beer, small fry, nobody, no one
- Antonyms
- some pumpkins