Found 2 items, similar to Small beer.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: small beer small beer n : something of small importance [syn: triviality, trivia, trifle]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Small beer Small \Small\ (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. Smaller; superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. sm[ae]l; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.] 1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river. [1913 Webster] To compare Great things with small. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business. [1913 Webster] 3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean. [1913 Webster] A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster] 4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. “A still, small voice.” --1 Kings xix. 12. [1913 Webster] Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. “His quests, great and small.” --Chaucer. Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. Small beer. See under Beer. Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. --Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. Small fruits. See under Fruit. Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. Small hours. See under Hour. Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or about 41/2cents. Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr. Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch. [1913 Webster] Beer \Beer\, n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. be['o]r; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj?rr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. [root]93, See Brew.] 1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor. [1913 Webster] Note: Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See Ale. [1913 Webster] 2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. [1913 Webster] Small beer, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. “To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.” --Shak. [1913 Webster]