small potatoes

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

An epithet applied to persons, and signifying mean, contemptible; as, 'He is very small potatoes.' Small potatoes are not fit for eating, and except for the feeding of hogs and cattle,, are worthless; hence the expression as applied to men. It is sometimes put into the more emphatic form of small potatoes and few in a hill; see Sam Slick in England for an explanation of the latter, ch. 6.

Give me an honest old soldier for the Presidency--whether a Whig or Democrat--and I will leave your small potato politicians and petty-fogging lawyers to those who are willing to submit the destiny of this great nation to such hands.--N. Y. Herald, Dec. 13, 1846.

The very incidents of the meeting, and the names of the speakers [noticed by the Washington Union], induce a strong suspicion that it was rather small potatoes.--N. Y. Com. Adv., April 15, 1848.

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