small potatoes

American  

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a person or thing of little significance, importance, or value.

   His salary was small potatoes for an executive of his ability.

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small potatoes British  

noun

1. informal someone or something of little significance or value, esp a small amount of money

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Etymology

Origin of small potatoes

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

small potatoes

Those savings are not small potatoes: The skin substitutes cost taxpayers billions, and the figure has risen dramatically since before the pandemic.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

That might sound like small potatoes, but it really is big bucks.

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2025

At the end of the day, some might see all these matters I’ve raised as small potatoes.

From Slate ● May 22, 2025

In some ways, it’s small potatoes compared to what’s happening now.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2025

She shifted a can of pears, a shriveled carrot, and two small potatoes to one side.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez