small-bore

American  

[smawl-bawr, -bohr] / ˈsmɔlˌbɔr, -ˌboʊr /

adjective

1. of, noting, or relating to a .22-caliber firearm.

2. insular or parochial in scope, attitude, etc..

   small-bore officials.

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small-bore British  

adjective

1. (of a firearm) having a small bore, especially one of less than .22 calibre

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Etymology

Origin of small-bore

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson evoke the small-bore unraveling of new parenthood in the boonies, with Lawrence in particular throwing her whole body into a creeping alienation from one’s spouse and oneself.

From Los Angeles Times

Set years before the movies we know and love, the show goes small-bore on spycraft, marital diplomacy and the all-too-real cost of rebellion.

From The Wall Street Journal

During our call, all Hochman’s gee-whiz energy was directed toward the small-bore changes that he feels, collectively, make the restaurant a better place to work.

From Slate

Most of the rest of the performance — which touched on more than a dozen songs — was grander in scale, designed to fill a football field: A small-bore, granular-gestured showcase gave way to an explosive party.

From New York Times

Yes, it was militantly anti-message, building small-bore farces around four single, child-free New Yorkers who had an inordinate amount of time to sit in a diner.

From New York Times