ENGLISH
REFERENCE

small fry

idiom
Meaning

One or more relatively small and insignificant individuals or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.


Origin

first recorded 16th c.

From small + fry, first use appears c. 1577, in the publications of John Dee.

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't worry about those small fry in the meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

The police are ignoring the small fry to focus on the leaders of the criminal organization.

COMPLEX

While the media focused on the small fry, the true architects of the financial scandal remained hidden from public scrutiny.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 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.

  2. 02

    bigger fish to fry

    A much more pressing issue to attend to.

  3. 03

    fish to fry

    A matter to attend to.

  4. 04

    fry up

    a breakfast made of tomatoes, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, baked beans, black pudding, chips, toast and mushrooms (or any combination thereof); full English breakfast

  5. 05

    have other fish to fry

    To have more important things to do.

  6. 06

    in no small measure

    To a very great extent.

  7. 07

    in no small part

    Synonym of in no small measure.

  8. 08

    one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind

    (used imitatively) A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone.

© 2026 English Reference