as in nothing
something of little importance
the money we spend on cable is small beer compared to the mortgage payment we have to come up with every month
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small beer
That covers even things like withholding taxes and the administration of those, which sometimes might seem like relatively small beer, but often for some of our members, significant amounts of money.
—
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
This is small beer for a government committing genocide (according to the U.S. State Department and other bodies).
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 30 July 2024
This includes fresh paint in several places, some new concession stands, a small beer garden, new lights, and perhaps most notably, two new video boards flanking the stage.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2024
And while goofing around in a theater was fun, the challenge and buzz of playing for knowing audiences was small beer indeed compared to the whole-of-being workout of doing undercover improv on national tv and radio.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 7 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for small beer
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
This is small beer for a government committing genocide (according to the U.S. State Department and other bodies).
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 30 July 2024
This includes fresh paint in several places, some new concession stands, a small beer garden, new lights, and perhaps most notably, two new video boards flanking the stage.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2024
And while goofing around in a theater was fun, the challenge and buzz of playing for knowing audiences was small beer indeed compared to the whole-of-being workout of doing undercover improv on national tv and radio.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 7 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for small beer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small beer
Noun
-
My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
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The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2024
Noun
-
Yesterday’s pangrams were triviality, trivially and virality.—
Alex Travelli,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Never issue false assurances, but don’t dwell on trivialities either.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Suddenly, these leaders could see where performance gaps were occurring, compare impact across departments and simulate how small changes in pricing, supply chain timing or resource allocation could ripple through the business.—
Raj Polanki,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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This is done through a DIY practice of making small changes to diet, exercise, sleep, and other behaviors or lifestyle factors.—
Patty Weasler,
Verywell Health,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Small beer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20beer. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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