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

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

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2025

Too many small potatoes were swept up in the indictment.

From Salon ● May 15, 2024

“It is not small potatoes, it is not this small, incremental change in the way that the world works,” he said, stabbing the tip of his pencil into his notebook.

From Science Magazine ● Sep. 25, 2023

We held our breath as Granda lifted up the small potatoes, then patted them under the earth again.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff