small time

¹

noun

1. a circuit of minor theaters giving three or more shows daily.

small-time

²

[smawl-tahym]

adjective

1. of modest or insignificant size, importance, or influence.

   a small-time politician.

small-time

adjective

1. informal,  insignificant; minor

   a small-time criminal

Other Word Forms

• small-timer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of small time¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Origin of small time²

First recorded in 1910–15

Idioms and Phrases

A modest or minor level of achievement, as in Her success took her out of the small time to prime-time television. This expression was originally used in vaudeville for second-rate theaters and productions. [Early 1900s] Also see big time, def. 2.

Related Words

• petty