small potatoes

Definition

One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.

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).

Example Sentences

• "My paycheck is small potatoes compared to hers."
• "He no longer works for individuals, since they are small potatoes compared to his corporate clients."
• "It's small potatoes for a man-o-war to be hunting poor game, like us little fore and afters.""