1
: minor, unimportant
a small-fry politician
2
: of, relating to, or intended for children : childish
small-fry sports
plural small fry also small fries
1
US, informal
: a child
—usually plural
Is there really any great difference, one might ask, between that gang of kids playing video games by the hour at their local candy store these days and those small fry who used to hang around together spending equal amounts of time playing marbles?—
Marie Winn
Marie WinnMothers and fathers, their small fry hopping from ledge to ledge with them, are climbing mountains from the Appalachians to the Rockies.—John Devaney
John DevaneyEver since the giddy '60s … small-screen small fries have made their mark with clean-cut comedy perfect for fans of all ages.—Damian J. Holbrook
Damian J. Holbrook2
informal
: someone or something considered insignificant or minor
These two, with their perfunctory fast handshakes, made Henry feel like the small fry he was …—Herman Wouk
—usually pluralHerman WoukUnfortunately, however, many of the cases on O'Keefe's list involved insignificant small fry who had cheated the government out of relatively small amounts of money and, in some cases, no money at all.—David Burnham
David Burnham3
: a recently hatched or juvenile fish
—usually plural
The basic strategy hasn't changed much since the first competition in 1903: Catch tiddlers, or small fry. This requires a hook the size of a mosquito's leg, a line as fine as a spider's web—and a rod as much as 36 feet long.—Barry Newman
Barry NewmanSynonyms
Examples of small-fry in a Sentence
Adjective
some small-fry official in the state government with a big-time ego
Recent Examples on the Web
Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 27 June 2024
For small-fry investors and big money managers alike, the psychological toll of falling behind creates pressure, particularly for those sticking with the playbook.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 10 June 2024
Brad Heppner had the grand idea of bringing investment opportunities enjoyed by Wall Street institutions to small-fry investors.
—Alexander Gladstone, WSJ, 28 July 2023
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Adjective
Cassatt achieved hers by changing mediums; by experimenting with colors; and by being perversely drawn to small-fry subject matter, then mining it from all angles.
—Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 27 June 2024
For small-fry investors and big money managers alike, the psychological toll of falling behind creates pressure, particularly for those sticking with the playbook.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 10 June 2024
Brad Heppner had the grand idea of bringing investment opportunities enjoyed by Wall Street institutions to small-fry investors.
—Alexander Gladstone, WSJ, 28 July 2023
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Dictionary Entries Near small-fry
Cite this Entry
“Small-fry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small-fry. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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