small fry

[ smawl frahy ]

noun

, plural small fry small fry or small fries

1. a child: He's a small fry with a big personality.

   Here's a treat for the small fry.

   He's a small fry with a big personality.

2. an unimportant person or object:

   Her fancy parties were closed to the small fry.

3. a small or young fish.

small fry

plural noun

1. people or things regarded as unimportant
2. young children
3. young or small fishes

Other Words From

• small-fry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of small fry¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; fry ²

Example Sentences

Some passages one might almost call psychedelic if that word didn’t seem inappropriate to small fry.

From Los Angeles Times

All season long, starting with an opening road loss to Anaheim and most recently last month in a 4-0 loss at San Jose, the Kraken have let the small fry push them around.

From Seattle Times

The emphasis was not on eliminating war and injustice but on features that might help us cosmic small fry to navigate the vicissitudes of “life.”

From New York Times

The department clearly has its sights on Trump, though it hasn’t confirmed an investigation and to date has been busy prosecuting nearly 1,000 rioters and coup-plotters — the small fry.

From Los Angeles Times

King County officials released 2,800 very small fry in February.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• baby
• boy
• daughter
• girl
• juvenile
• kid
• minor
• offspring
• son
• youngster
• youth