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small fry

[/smɔːl fraɪ/]
nounpl: small fry
peixe miúdo; pessoa ou coisa insignificante
1. Young or small fish; literally small aquatic creatures
The pond was full of small fry darting between the water lilies.
O lago estava cheio de peixe miúdo nadando entre os nenúfares.
2. A person or group considered unimportant, insignificant, or of little consequence
He dismissed the competitors as small fry compared to his company.
Ele descartou os concorrentes como peixe miúdo comparado à sua empresa.
3. Young children or people of little experience or status
We started as small fry in the music industry.
Começamos como pessoas insignificantes na indústria musical.
NYC Slang
small potatoes; nobodies; lightweight
Synonyms
small potatoespeanutstriflesnonentitiesinsignificant people
Antonyms
big fishbig shotimportant personVIPmajor player

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
peixe miúdo; gente insignificante
Common usage in both literal and figurative contexts
Rio de Janeiro
peixe miúdo; meia dúzia
Figurative use often refers to unimportant people or groups
São Paulo
peixe miúdo; insignificância
Business context frequently uses this phrase when dismissing competitors
Portugal
peixe miúdo; gente de pouca importância
Used similarly to describe unimportant matters or people

Related Idioms & Phrases

big fish in a small pond
big fish
make it big
the big leagues
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