SMALL BEER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does small beer mean? 

• SMALL BEER (noun)
  The noun SMALL BEER has 1 sense:

1. something of small importance

  Familiarity information: SMALL BEER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SMALL BEER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something of small importance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

small beer; trifle; trivia; triviality

Hypernyms ("small beer" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "small beer"):

bagatelle; fluff; frippery; frivolity (something of little value or significance)

 Context examples 

The charges against the said brother John are the following, namely, to wit: First, that on the above-mentioned Feast of the Assumption, small beer having been served to the novices in the proportion of one quart to each four, the said brother John did drain the pot at one draught to the detriment of brother Paul, brother Porphyry and brother Ambrose, who could scarce eat their none-meat of salted stock-fish on account of their exceeding dryness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)