smalltime
Not big league
Smalltime means minor, insignificant, or operating on a limited scale.
A smalltime crook commits petty crimes rather than major heists.
A smalltime operation lacks the resources or ambition of bigger competitors.
The word often carries a dismissive tone—calling someone smalltime suggests they'll never amount to much.
Also spelled small-time.
Of little importance
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- minor-leagueBelow professional level
- bush-leagueInferior, lacking polish
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
two-bit · penny-ante · piddling · nickel-and-dime · rinky-dink · lightweight · low-level · unimportant
Residential area nearby
- hometownOne's place of origin
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- backwaterStagnant side channel
- one-horseSmall and insignificant
podunk · parochial · regional · community · Main Street · mom-and-pop · local · grassroots
Nonprofessional participant
- wannabeAspiring imitator of others
- noviceInexperienced newcomer to field
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
dabbler · hobbyist · part-timer · aspiring · struggling · unknown · obscure · unprofessional
petty
Of little importance
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- minor-leagueBelow professional level
- bush-leagueInferior, lacking polish
inconsequential · two-bit · penny-ante · piddling · nickel-and-dime · rinky-dink · lightweight · low-level · unimportant · negligible
neighborhood
Residential area nearby
- hometownOne's place of origin
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- backwaterStagnant side channel
one-horse · podunk · parochial · regional · community · Main Street · mom-and-pop · local · grassroots · homegrown
amateur
Nonprofessional participant
beginner · dabbler · hobbyist · part-timer · aspiring · struggling · unknown · obscure · unprofessional · unpolished
crook
Bent implement or criminal
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
racketeer · hood · thug · scammer · fence · bookie · loan shark · dealer · smuggler · pickpocket
smalltimebigtime
Highest professional level
big-time · major league · big league · large-scale · major
smalltimebig-time
At top professional level
major league · big league · world-class · elite · top-tier
smalltimeprofessional
Credentialed in one's field
big league · serious · sophisticated · slick · polished
time, small, smallest, smallness, smallish, smalls, small-time