small potatoes

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.

small potatoes

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of small potatoes¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Representing Carrasco pro bono, he soon realized that she “was small potatoes” to prosecutors in their zeal to nail Enamorado.

From Los Angeles Times

Too many small potatoes were swept up in the indictment.

From Salon

When people can extravagantly lose money by placing a 12-team parlay that relies on the Minnesota Timberwolves to win a game by at least 3.5 points, it feels like small potatoes that soon enough “losing to your buddy in some Dave & Buster’s arcade game” will be another way to cough up dollars.

From Slate

In the context of everything else he may do with a second term, one minor policy flip-flop may seem like small potatoes, but the development represented a tectonic movement in Republican politics.

From Slate

Civil cases involving much larger sums of money than this one are routine, Mr Nassau added, calling the $1.4m in the Biden case "small potatoes".

From BBC