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

Derived Forms

• ˈsmall-ˈtimer, noun

Other Words From

• small-timer 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.

Example Sentences

There is certainly a lucrative yet dignified sweet spot between small time micro-brewer and soulless mass-producer.

From The Daily Beast

You worked with the late, great Elaine Stritch twice—on September and Small Time Crooks.

From The Daily Beast

Last August, a small-time classic rock cover band performed at a bar called 69 Taps in Medina, outside Cleveland.

From The Daily Beast

Did Christie Go Easy on a Sex Trafficker Just to Bust a Small-Time Pol?

From The Daily Beast

Conservatives attacking Baldwin for his latest fit of (justified) anger are being small-time and shortsighted.

From The Daily Beast

The difficulty of the end is the mass of matter to be attended to, and the small time left to transact it in.

From Project Gutenberg

From the dates of Mr. Seward's circulars, it is evident that he devoted small time to official 'house-warming' or 'cleaning up.'

From Project Gutenberg

However, in a small time afterwards he recovered, and I was again sold.

From Project Gutenberg

They are welcome, but Pray entertaine them a small time, lest I Be unprovided.

From Project Gutenberg

Coyne gave them small time to wonder what brought him into their midst.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• petty