small time

noun, (in vaudeville)

a circuit of minor theaters giving three or more shows daily.

Origin

1920-25, Americanism

small-time

[smawl-tahym] /ˈsmɔlˈtaɪm/

adjective

of modest or insignificant size, importance, or influence:

a small-time politician.

Origin

1910-15

Related forms

small-timer, noun

Examples from the web for small time

Those are small time commitments, but they're incredibly important.
Nor small time hoodlums guns, if they don't have connections with a larger cartel.
Notice the one of the main way for them to arrest small time drug users is threw a traffic stop.
The effect is to hand control of development to a commission made up almost exclusively of small time architects.
Because of the mesh singularities at the poles, an unrealistically small time-step is dictated for numerical stability.
They consider platoons of vehicles and simulate traffic flow in small time increments.
Don't try to cram lots of information into a small time frame, don't try to be efficient.

British Dictionary definitions for small time

small-time

adjective

(informal) insignificant; minor: a small-time criminal

Derived Forms

small-timer, noun

Word Origin and History for small time

small-time

adj.

1910, originally theater slang for lower-salaried circuits, or ones requiring more daily performances; from noun phrase (also 1910). Cf. big time.

Slang definitions & phrases for small time

small-time

adjective

Characteristic of the small time; inferior; petty; second-rate; bush league: a small-time political power (1910+ Show business)

Idioms and Phrases with small time

small time

A modest or minor level of achievement, as in Her success took her out of the small time to prime-time television. This expression was originally used in vaudeville for second-rate theaters and productions. [ Early 1900s ]

Also see: big time, def. 2.