small change
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
[edit]- Coins of little value kept in one's pocket or bag, ready for small purchases.
- Synonyms: pocket change, loose change, spare change; pocket shrapnel (slang), shrapnel (slang)
- Hypernyms: change, coins
- Holonyms: pocket money, spending money, walk-around money, walking-around money; pin money
- (idiomatic) A minor or insignificant amount of money.
- Synonyms: pocket change, loose change, spare change; chump change; pittance; coffee money
- The cost of toothpaste is small change compared to the cost of dental work.
- (idiomatic, by extension) A person or thing of little importance or value.
- Synonyms: small-timer, small fry, small potatoes, nobody
- 1988 December 14, Vincent Canby, “Movie Review: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, in New York Times, retrieved 25 May 2016:
- He's a self-satisfied klutz who aspires to be a con artist. . . . Compared with Lawrence, Freddy is small change.
Usage notes
[edit]This term can also be used in the negative to indicate a great deal of money:
- The car he wants costs $38,000, and that's no small change.
Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]a minor or insignificant amount of money
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