small-time

small-time — adjective

1. used to describe a person, business, or activity that operates at a limited scal

1.形容詞B2
釋義

used to describe a person, business, or activity that operates at a limited scale and has little importance or success — often implying they are not part of the major or well-known circles in their field.

例句

Bao started as a small-time singer before landing a record deal with a major label.

contrast: small-time → major label shows scale difference

The police arrested a small-time thief who had stolen wallets from a market.

small-time + [criminal noun]

同義詞
  • minor

    broader in meaning; can describe any matter of little consequence, not limited to scale of operations

  • insignificant

    more formal; emphasizes lack of worth or impact beyond scale

  • petty

    often implies narrow-mindedness or trivial concerns; common in legal contexts (petty crime)

反義詞
  • big-time

    direct opposite; same register and attributive-only usage

  • major

    general opposite; describes something large, important, or influential

文法句型

small-time + [noun]

用法筆記

Used only before a noun (attributive position). Cannot appear after a linking verb: ❌ 'His business is small-time.' ✅ 'He runs a small-time business.' Often carries a dismissive or mildly critical tone, especially when comparing someone to larger, more successful competitors.

常見錯誤

❌He is a small businessman' (to mean unimportant).
✅He is a small-time businessman.
💡'small businessman' describes the size of the business; 'small-time' describes the low level of success or importance.
❌Their operation is small-time' (after a verb).
✅It is a small-time operation.
💡'small-time' is attributive only and must come before the noun.