little (redirected from littleness)

Great/Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

something that you say in order to emphasize that a large, successful organization or plan was very small or simple when it began. Microsoft, which is now the biggest independent software company in the world, was founded in 1975 by just two men. It goes to show that great oaks from little acorns grow.

See also: from, great, grow, mighty

A little bird told me (so).

something that you say in order to let someone know that you are not going to tell them who gave you the information being discussed. 'So who told you she'd got the job?' 'Oh, let's just say a little bird told me so.'

See also: bird, told

a little horror (humorous)

a child who behaves very badly. I had six of the little horrors running round the house all day.

a nice little earner (British & Australian, informal)

something such as a job or a business that allows you to earn a lot of money. That waitressing job's a nice little earner.

See also: nice

no/little love lost between someone

if there is no love lost between two people, they do not like each other. There's no love lost between those two. They could never work together.

See also: between, lost, love

a (little) tin god (literary)

someone who behaves as if they are more important or powerful than they really are. Have you seen him over there, acting like a little tin god?

See also: god, tin

too little, too late

if the help that is given to a person is described as too little, too late, there is not enough of it and it was given too late to be useful. The government have finally decided to put some money into research but it's too little, too late.

See also: late

twist/wrap someone around/round your little finger

to be able to persuade someone to do anything you want, usually because they like you so much. He'd do anything you asked him to. You've got him wrapped around your little finger!

See also: around, finger, round, twist, wrap

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little by little

in small amounts. I started out with some basic hand tools and little by little added some power tools, a good sander, and a drill.

too little, too late

not enough and not given soon enough to be useful. Financial help for food pantries and soup kitchens may be too little, too late.

See also: late