small (redirected from smaller)

*thankful for small blessings

grateful for any small benefits or advantages one has, especially in a generally difficult situation. (Typically: be ~; become ~.) We have very little money, but we must be thankful for small blessings. At least we have enough food. Bob was badly injured in the accident, but at least he's still alive. Let's be thankful for small blessings.

See also: blessing, thankful

best things come in small packages, good things come in small packages

Prov. Small packages often contain valuable things. (Sometimes said of petite or short people.) Jill: I'm upset at George. He only gave me this tiny box for my birthday. Jane: Don't get upset till you know what's in it. Good things do come in small packages. Child: I hate being so short. Grandmother: You shouldn't. The best things come in small packages.

See also: best, come, good, package, thing

big frog in a small pond

an important person in the midst of less important people. (Alludes to a large frog that dominates a small pond with few challengers.) I'd rather be a big frog in a small pond than the opposite. The trouble with Tom is that he's a big frog in a small pond. He needs more competition.

See also: big, frog, pond

engage in small talk

to talk only about minor matters rather than important matters or personal matters. All the people at the party were engaging in small talk. They chatted about the weather and otherwise engaged in small talk.

See also: engage, talk

Good things come in small packages

. Go to The best things come in small packages.

See also: come, good, package, thing

lay low and sing small

Rur. to hide; to make oneself inconspicuous. After he robbed the bank, the outlaw decided to lay low and sing small awhile. Jane is looking for you, and she sure is angry. You'd best lay low and sing small.

See also: and, lay, low, sing

Little things please little minds, and Small things please small minds.

Prov. People who are not intelligent are pleased by trivial things. (Implies that the person you are talking about is not intelligent.) Jill: Nathaniel's been awfully cheerful today. Jane: Yes, his favorite TV show is on tonight. Jill: Little things please little minds, they say.

See also: little, mind, please, thing

mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small

Prov. It may take a long time, but evil will always be punished. Jill: It really doesn't seem right that Fred can be so horrible and dishonest, but he always gets everything he wants. Jane: Be patient. The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.

See also: god, grind, yet

small change

Fig. an insignificant person. (Also a rude term of address.) Look, small change, why don't you just move along? The guy you think is small change happens to own this building you seem to be guarding so well.

See also: change

small fortune

a rather sizeable amount of money. This set of wheels cost me a small fortune. I've got a small fortune tied up in test equipment.

See also: fortune

small fry 

1. Lit. newly hatched fish; small, juvenile fish. The catch was bad today. Nothing but small fry.

2. Fig. unimportant people. The police have only caught the small fry. The leader of the gang is still free. You people are just small fry! I want to talk to the boss.

3. Fig. children. Peter's taking the small fry to the zoo. We should take the small fry to the pantomime.

See also: fry

small potatoes

something or someone insignificant; small fry. This contract is small potatoes, but it keeps us in business till we get into the real money. Small potatoes are better than no potatoes at all.

See also: potato

small print and fine print

an important part of a document that is not easily noticed because of the smallness of the printing. You should have read the small print before signing the contract. You should always read the fine print of an insurance policy.

See also: print

Thank God for small favors.

Rur. Be thankful that something good has happened in a bad situation. Charlie: We're out of gas, but I think I see a gas station up ahead. Tom: Thank God for small favors. He had a heart attack, but it was right there in the doctor's office, so they could take care of him right away. Thank God for small favors.

See also: favor, god, thank

the small hours (of the night) and the wee hours (of the night)

the hours immediately after midnight. The dance went on into the small hours of the night. Jim goes to bed in the wee hours and gets up at lunchtime.

See also: hour

---

a big fish in a small pond

one of the most important people in a small group or organization, who would have much less power and importance if they were part of a larger group or organization As the manager of a local company, he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond.

See also: big, fish, pond

a small fortune

a lot of money Her hair ought to look good - she spends a small fortune on it.

See also: fortune

be grateful/thankful for small mercies

if someone should be grateful for small mercies, they should feel grateful that something good has happened, although it is not everything that they wanted They've agreed to end the meeting half an hour early. I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies.

See also: mercy

Don't sweat the small stuff.  (American informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone not to worry about things that are not important Don't sweat the small stuff, Sam. It's just office gossip - no one takes it seriously.

See also: stuff, sweat

in small doses

if you like someone or something in small doses, you only like them for short periods She's all right in small doses but I wouldn't want to spend a whole lot of time with her.

See also: dose

It's a small world.

something that you say when you discover that someone knows a person that you know Imagine you knowing Erik! It's a small world, isn't it?

See also: world

make somebody feel small

to say something which makes someone feel not important or stupid As a manager you have to be able to criticize people but you don't want to make them feel small.

See cop a feel, feel hot and cold, look a million dollars, be under the weather

See also: feel, make

small beer  (British, American & Australian informal) also small potatoes (American & Australian informal)

something that is not important, especially when compared to something else A loan of that size is small beer - these banks are lending millions of pounds a day. And we are not talking small potatoes - building the airport means many people in the area will lose their homes.

See also: beer

small fry  (informal)

1. people, organizations, or activities that are not large or important The small fry are soon going to be pushed out of business by all these multinationals. This investigation is small fry for a police force used to massive inquiries.

2. (American humorous) very young children These computer games will really intrigue the small fry in your house - kids love them.

See also: fry

the fine/small print

the part of a printed agreement that is printed smaller than the rest but which contains very important information Never sign a contract until you have read the small print.

See also: fine, print

the small hours

the early hours of the morning (often + of ) I was up till the small hours of Wednesday morning finishing off that report. She was born in the small hours of Saturday morning.

See the fine print, Don't sweat the small stuff, make feel small

See also: hour

---

read the small print See: read the fine print

See also: print, read