sing small
To assume a humble tone.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He had to sing small after he made a big mistake.”
“After the manager corrected his errors, he had to sing small during the meeting.”
“The arrogant politician was forced to sing small once the public discovered the truth about his secret financial dealings.”
From sing and the obsolete use of small to mean softly or in a low tone. The idiom retains this sense of reduced volume, functioning as a compound of the verb and the adverbial form for a quiet fashion.
- 01
big fish in a small pond
One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.
- 02
in no small measure
To a very great extent.
- 03
in no small part
Synonym of in no small measure.
- 04
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind
(used imitatively) A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone.
- 05
sing a different tune
To hold a different opinion or appreciation (about something); to possess a new, changed, or regenerated mindset, usually for the better.
- 06
sing along
To sing some music while someone else is singing or playing the same piece of music or while it is being broadcast or performed
- 07
sing for one's supper
To work in exchange for some reward or recompense.
- 08
sing from the same hymnbook
To make the same or similar statements, especially to express the same opinions in public as a result of a prior agreement.
Last updated August 10, 2026