be pocket change

To be a triflingly small amount of money, especially in comparison to a much larger figure. Though the $5 million settlement may seem like a huge win against the megacorporation, it's pocket change when you consider that they made $14.5 billion in profits last year. A: "He paid for the entire bill? All $175 of it?" B: "The guy's loaded. He said it was pocket change." A: "Did that guy really just spend $1000 on two t-shirts?" B: "He's a professional athlete—$1000 is pocket change to him."