small beer
"Small beer" originally referred to a low-alcohol beverage but has evolved to also mean something trivial or insignificant.
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Definition
B2Brewing
(historical, modern)A type of beer with low alcohol content, typically between 0.5% and 2.8% ABV.
Example
- In medieval times, people often drank small beer because it was safer than water.
- Modern breweries sometimes produce small beer for those who prefer a lighter drink.
C1General
(idiomatic, chiefly British)A term used to describe something that is considered unimportant or trivial.
Example
- The budget for stationery is small beer compared to the overall company expenses.
- While the error was unfortunate, in the grand scheme of things, it was small beer.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "small beer":
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