small stuff

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. small cordage, as marlines, yarns, etc.

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small stuff British  

noun

1. nautical any light twine or yarn used aboard ship for serving lines, etc

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Etymology

Origin of small stuff

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

We want to chase “these big things,” as he described them, but sometimes it’s the small stuff we encounter along the way that counts the most.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 31, 2025

Storage was mixed: there was a large closet in the entryway for hanging clothes and storing our bags, but no drawers meant we had to shuffle around the small stuff to keep everything organized.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025

The job is to reassure reluctant members, at each procedural juncture where their votes are needed, not to sweat the small stuff and that things will be fixed down the line.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2025

Don’t sweat the small stuff and “Captain America: Brave New World” proves itself to be a decent political thriller with something culturally resonant to say that exceeds mere comic-book particulars.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

She lived in her own room, learned to sneak around, learned how to carry small stuff between her arms and her rib cage.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements