small time

¹

noun

1. a circuit of minor theaters giving three or more shows daily.

small-time

²

[ smawl-tahym ]

adjective

1. of modest or insignificant size, importance, or influence:

   a small-time politician.

small-time

adjective

1. informal.
   insignificant; minor

   a small-time criminal

Derived Forms

• ˈsmall-ˈtimer, noun

Other Words From

• small-timer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of small time¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Origin of small time²

First recorded in 1910–15

Idioms and Phrases

A modest or minor level of achievement, as in Her success took her out of the small time to prime-time television . This expression was originally used in vaudeville for second-rate theaters and productions. [Early 1900s] Also see big time , def. 2.

Example Sentences

In the local vernacular, it has all been a bit small time.

From BBC

"I'm trying to change the world in whatever small time that I'm here. I enjoy the responsibility of being a role model, I try to inspire as many people as possible - young, old, whatever," Earps said.

From BBC

On the campaign: “Later I was thankful for those early months when there were no large crowds, although I wanted them at the time, and when there were no press with me to record every slipup or misstatement. I was soon able to anticipate questions and to answer them, falteringly at times, but I learned. I also developed a standard stump speech and learned to get my message across in the often small time allotted no matter what questions were asked.”

From Seattle Times

Ah, but back to the small time, the part time, the pure of heart, the candidates without fundraising consultants.

From Seattle Times

“It’s so much in such a small time period.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• petty