little things, the

the little things

1. Matters, issues, concerns, outcomes, etc., that are or seem to be of minor significance or importance. I've been trying to learn to enjoy the little things in life, instead of getting too hung up on big-picture stuff that I'm dissatisfied with. After my dad passed away, it was the little things that I missed the most—the way he sipped his coffee in the morning, his whistling when he washed dishes, things like that.

2. Aspects, details, or events that seem to be mundane or of little importance but which actually make up the majority of one's life experience. Look, everyone screws up now and then, so try not to sweat the little things. You're getting way too focused on the little things, Brian. Let's try to focus on the bigger picture.

little things, the

The unimportant matters, the minor concerns. This term dates back to the ancient Romans, or perhaps even further. Writers have deemed little things either as too trivial to make a difference (Ovid: “Little things affect little minds,” repeated by Disraeli and Oliver Goldsmith, among others) or as being the building blocks of important matters (Browning: “We find great things are made of little things”). A related phrase is the least little thing, meaning the least important matter or occurrence, as in “The least little thing will set her off in a temper tantrum.”