Learn English – Idiom for “very little, compared to real value”

idioms

Norwegian has an idiom that means roughly "small change compared to the real cost or value", which would translate literally as "buttons and scraps".

Is there a similar idiom in English?

Some usage examples translated from Norwegian:

  • "We cannot accept that our part of the country would be left with [buttons and scraps] while valuable resources disappear before our eyes" (Local politician in a discussion on oil.)
  • "Offered [buttons and scraps] – that's why we're going on strike" (Newspaper headline)
  • "Unless they are in the porn or games business, media companies must accept that their future income from internet content will remain [buttons and scraps]" (Newspaper opinion piece)

If you are on the buying end the English idiom "for a song" ("I got it for a song") is pretty much the same, but I don't think it can be used in contexts like above.

Is there an idiom that can?

Best Answer

Some options from a thesaurus (some better than others): peanuts, crumbs, chicken feed, chump change, nickels and dimes, pittance, small potatoes, scraps, drop in the ocean, trifle.

Of these, "peanuts" and "small potatoes" are probably the ones closest to appropriate in your sentences.

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