UNIMPORTANT
ADJECTIVES
► AIRY-FAIRY insubstantial, trivial, of minimal importance → 1920s sl.
► ARBITRARY insignificant, unimportant → 1986 US sl.
► ASSY insignificant, second-rate, unimportant → 2000s African-American sl.
► CHEAP JOHN inferior; unknown; unimportant; said of people and places → 20C Amer.
► EASY of small importance, insignificant, slight; not very good, indifferent → 1468 obs.
► FEATHER-WEIGHTED trifling, unimportant → 1870
► FINGLE-FANGLE trifling, of no importance → a1652 obs.
► GYPPO small-time → 1959 Can. sl.
► HEAN ► HENE mean, abject, poor; humble, lowly; abased, ignoble; miserable, wretched, dejected, humiliated; of little importance, trivial → c825 obs.
► IMMOMENT of no moment; unimportant; trifling → 1606 obs.
► IMMOMENTARY of no moment; unimportant → 1662 obs.
► IMMOMENTOUS of no moment; unimportant → 1726
► IMPORTLESS without import or significance; trivial, unimportant; meaningless → 1606 obs.
► LOWER-CASE small in size or importance; insignificant, inconsequential → 1917 chiefly US
► LOWLY humble in rank, condition or quality; insignificant, unimportant; also, unexceptional, ordinary → 1485 arch.
► MATTERLESS unimportant, immaterial → 1870 Eng. dial.
► NANNY-CRATTY foolish, weak-minded, childish; of small account; generally used of persons, but also of a conversation or work → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NIFLING of small importance or value; trifling; insignificant; worthless → 1649 obs.
► NIGGLING irritatingly petty, chiefly unimportant, but time-consuming and energy-consuming → 1631 sl.
► NINNY-NONNY of small account → 1865 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NOT CUT CHEESE unimportant → 1896 Amer. dial.
► NOTHING TO MAKE A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT nothing to make a fuss about; nothing in the least important, mediocre → L19
► NOTHINGY of no worth or importance → 1834
► NOT MATTER A CUSS unimportant, inconsequential → 1901 sl.
► NOT MATTER A DAMN unimportant, of no consequence → 1894 sl.
► NOT MATTER A FART IN THE BREEZE unimportant, inconsequential → 1993 sl.
► NOT MATTER A HA’PENNY unimportant, inconsequential → 1955 sl.
► NOT MATTER A JOT unimportant, insignificant → 1822 sl.
► NOT MATTER A SNAP unimportant, insignificant → 1901 sl.
► NOT MATTER A STRAW unimportant, insignificant → 1681 sl.
► NOT MATTER A TINKER’S CURSE unimportant, of no consequence → 1914 sl.
► NOT MATTER A TINKER’S DAMN unimportant, of no consequence → 1923 sl.
► NOT MATTER A TUPPENNY DAMN unimportant, of no consequence → 1913 sl.
► NOT WORTH A FART IN A HAILSTORM unimportant, insignificant; of little value → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NOT WORTH A FART IN HELL unimportant, insignificant; of little value → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NUGACIOUS trivial, trifling, futile; of no moment or importance → 1652
► NUGATORIOUS trifling, of no value or importance, worthless → 1646 obs.
► OFF THE WALL unimportant, uninteresting → 1955 African-American sl.
► ONE-EYED of a place or object: inferior, inadequate, unimportant → 1865 sl., orig. US
► ONE-HORSE small and insignificant; unimportant; second-rate, inferior → 1853 Amer. dial.
► PENNY ANTE insignificant, unimportant → M19 sl., orig. US
► PICAYUNE mean, contemptible, paltry; of small value or importance → 1856 Amer. colloq.
► PICAYUNISH of small value or importance → US & Can. colloq.
► PISS-ANT petty, insignificant, unimportant → 1971 Amer. dial.
► PISSY-ANT petty, insignificant, unimportant → 1971 Amer. dial.
► SAPLESS of little importance; trivial → 1602
► SKITTERY trifling, of little importance, trivial → 1905
► SMALL-BORE trivial; unimportant → 1900 US colloq.
► SMALL FRY minor, unimportant → 1828
► SMALL-TIME insignificant; trivial; worthless; second-rate, unimportant → 1915
► THREE-CENTS insignificant, unimportant, worthless → 20C W. Indies sl.
► VAIN trivial, unimportant → 1731
► WAFF of things, qualities, etc.: weak, lacking strength or substance, flimsy, shoddy, paltry, of little account → 1810 Sc.
► X’ED OUT used of something that, while once important, is no longer relevant → 1970s African-American sl.
NOUNS
► ALE-FROTH nonsense, anything of no account → 1901 Eng. dial.
► ANCIENT HISTORY the past or a past event considered as no longer relevant, important, or interesting → 1838 colloq.
► BACK OF NOWHERE an out of the way place; a very unimportant place → 1967 Amer. dial.
► BAD PLACE IN THE ROAD a small, unimportant, or out-of-the-way settlement → 1967 Amer. dial.
► BAD SPOT IN THE ROAD a small, unimportant, or out-of-the-way settlement → 1967 Amer. dial.
► BAGATELLE a trifle; a thing of no importance; a matter of little worth → c1645
► BAG OF SHELLS a trifle; an unimportant object → 1950 Aust. sl.
► BAUCHLE an unimportant or worthless person or thing; a ne’er-do-well → 1820 Sc.
► BIGGINS something of no importance → 2007 UK sl. (Bk.)
► BIGS something of no importance → 2007 UK sl. (Bk.)
► BLINK-EYE a very small community; a very unimportant place → 1969 Amer. dial.
► BLIP a surprise; a sudden disappointment; anything quick and insignificant; a one-time thing of little importance → 1940s African-American sl.
► BOONIES the backwoods, an out-of-the-way or a very unimportant place → 1956 Amer. dial.
► BUGGER’S WOODS an out-of-the-way place, or a very unimportant place → 1970 Amer. dial.
► BUSHES, THE an insignificant or unimportant place; an out-of-the-way place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► CABBAGE-PATCH a place or thing of little importance; an out-of-the-way place → 1862 Amer. sl.
► CHAFF nonsense, humbug, foolishness, ridicule; small, unimportant things or acts → 1859 Amer. dial.
► CHICKEN FEED something trifling, of little importance, esp. a small sum of money; small change → 1837 Amer. dial.
► COW PATCH a remote place, or a very small or unimportant place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DISHCLOTH a lackey; someone or something of little value or importance → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DISHRAG a lackey; someone or something of little value or importance → 1906 Amer. dial.
► DOGPATCH a remote place, or a very small or unimportant place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► END OF COMEBACK an out-of-the-way place, or a very unimportant place → 1966 Amer. dial.
► END OF CREATION a thing of extremely little consequence → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► END OF NOWHERE an out-of-the-way place, or a very unimportant place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► ERYSIPELAS something unimportant → 1928 Amer. dial.
► FALL-OFF an out-of-the-way place, or a very unimportant place → 1967 Amer. dial.
► FANG something of little value or importance → 1923 Sc.
► FART IN A HAILSTORM the most insignificant, unimportant, or transitory thing → 1965 Amer. dial.
► FART IN A THUNDERSTORM, A something of negligible worth or impact; something insignificant, ineffective, or fleeting → 1989 UK sl.
► FART IN A WHIRLWIND the most insignificant, unimportant, or transitory thing → 1952 Amer. dial.
► FART IN A WINDSTORM the most insignificant, unimportant, or transitory thing → 1963 Amer. dial.
► FEATHER anything of little strength or importance; a very small amount, a trifle → 1601
► FEWTRILS little unimportant things, trifles → c1750 Eng. dial.
► FIGURE NINE WITH THE TAIL CUT OFF nothing; something of no account or consequence → 1916 Amer. dial.
► FINGLE-FANGLE a trifle; a thing of no importance; something whimsical or fantastic → 1678 obs.
► FLOCCINAUCITY a matter of little consequence; something worthless → 1829
► GOAT’S WOOL something of little or no importance or worth → 1550 obs.
► HENPECK a small, unimportant, or out-of-the-way place → 1967 Amer. dial.
► HICKEY something of little consequence → E20 chiefly N. Amer.
► JOT-‘EM-DOWN a remote or a very small or unimportant place → 1968 Amer. dial.
► LAND’S END an out-of-the-way place or an unimportant village → 1950 Amer. dial.
► LAST CHANCE an out-of-the-way or unimportant place → 1968 Amer. dial. jocular
► LITTLE END OF NOTHING something very small, unimportant, or insignificant → 1825 Amer. dial.
► LITTLE END OF NOTHING SHARPENED DOWN TO A POINT anything very insignificant or utterly unimportant → E19 US sl.
► LITTLE END OF NOTHING WHITTLED DOWN TO A POINT anything very insignificant or utterly unimportant → E19 US sl.
► LOG TOWN a small or unimportant town → 1950 Amer. dial.
► MONKEY WORK unimportant, repetitive, or unsatisfying work → 1830 US colloq.
► NESTERSVILLE an out-of-the-way place; a very small or unimportant place → 1967 Amer. dial.
► NIFF-NAFF a trifling or unimportant thing or matter; something of little value; a knick-knack, a trifle, a bauble; anything very small → 1838 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► NIFLE originally, a trifling or fictitious tale, a jest; later, a trifle; a thing of little or no worth or importance → 1395 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► NO GREAT SHAKES an unimportant or average person or group → c1850 Amer. sl.
► NONNY-NO something unimportant; a mere trifle → 1652 obs.
► NOTHING BUT A THING something that is not important → 1993 US sl.
► NOTHING’S NEST a thing of no value or importance; a nonentity → 1892 Eng. dial.
► ONE-HORSE TOWN a small or unimportant place; an out-of-the-way place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► PEANUT ROW a small, unimportant, or out-of-the-way place → 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory
► PEANUTSVILLE a small, unimportant, or out-of-the-way place → 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory
► PICAYUNE the name formerly given in Louisiana, Florida, etc., to the Spanish half-real, value 6 1/4 cents or 3 pence; then given to the U.S. 5-cent piece or other coin of small value; hence, a person or thing considered small, mean, or insignificant; something of slight value or trifling importance → 1852 Amer. colloq.
► RASHER OF WIND anything of little or no account → M19 sl.
► SCRATCH-ANKLE an out-of-the-way place, or a very small or unimportant place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SCRATCH-ANKLE HOLLER an out-of-the-way place, or a very small or unimportant place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SKUNK CITY a name or nickname for an unimportant or out-of-the-way place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SKUNK HOLLOW a name or nickname for an unimportant or out-of-the-way place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SKUNK’S MISERY a name or nickname for an unimportant or out-of-the-way place → 1847 Amer. dial.
► SKUNK’S NECK a name or nickname for an unimportant or out-of-the-way place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SKUNKTOWN a name or nickname for an unimportant or out-of-the-way place → 1875 Amer. dial.
► SKUNK VALLEY a name or nickname for an unimportant or out-of-the-way place → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SMALL BEER trifling matters, trivial occupations, small things; matters or persons of little or no consequence or importance; trifles → 1710
► SMALL FISH a person or thing of relatively small importance or significance → 1836 colloq.
► TRUFFERY a thing of no importance; a mockery, a trifle, a triviality → c1429 obs.
► ZED something of little or no importance or value → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
NOUNS – PERSON
► ADAM’S OFF-OX a clumsy or unimportant person → 1990 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► ANKLE-BITER a person regarded as relatively unimportant but nevertheless irritating or annoying → 1968 colloq., chiefly US
► ASS-BUCKET 1953 Amer. sl. – a contemptible or inconsequential fellow; an unpopular or unimportant person
► BAND-END ► BANDS-END anything worthless and useless; a person of no importance → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BAUCHLE an unimportant or worthless person or thing; a ne’er-do-well → 1820 Sc.
► BIMBO an insignificant, unimportant person → 1840 US sl.
► BINDLE STIFF an unimportant man; one of little influence or ability → 1929 sl.
► BREATH-AND-BRITCHES an unimportant or worthless person → 1937 Amer. dial.
► COPPERTAIL an unimportant person; a person of little social standing; hence a democrat rather than an aristocrat → L19 Aust. sl.
► COPPERTOP an unimportant person; a person of little social standing; hence a democrat rather than an aristocrat → L19 Aust. sl.
► DISHCLOTH a lackey; someone or something of little value or importance → 1965 Amer. dial.
► DISHRAG a lackey; someone or something of little value or importance → 1906 Amer. dial.
► DUMBJOHN a person of no importance, esp. a military cadet → 1951 US sl.
► END OF CREATION a person or thing of extremely little consequence → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► FLY ON THE COACH-WHEEL a person of little consequence who considers himself of great importance → 1785
► GADGET an unimportant person → c1945 Amer. sl.
► HA’PORTH an unimportant or silly person → 2004 Brit. sl. (Bk.)
► HOP-AND-GO-FETCH-IT ► STEP-AND-GO-FETCH-IT an unimportant, contemptible, or officious person → 1916 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► HULLOO a completely inconsequential person → 1992 Norfolk Island
► JACK-STRAW a man of no substance, worth, or consequence; an unimportant or worthless person; a nobody → 1596
► JOE SCHMO a hypothetical average or ordinary person; a person of no distinction or importance → 1947 sl., orig. US
► LAD OF WAX a boy; a weak or unimportant man → L18 sl.
► LIGHT STUFF an unimportant person → 1970s sl.
► LITTLE FISH an unimportant person → E19 US sl.
► LOWLY, THE people of low rank or importance, as a class; also, a person of low rank or status → 1547 arch.
► MONKEY a person who is less important or powerful than another; a subordinate; a lackey; used in contrast to ‘organ-grinder’ → 1957 often depreciative
► NAE SHEEPSHANK a person or thing of no importance → 1786 Sc.
► NIFFY-NAFFY FELLOW a trifler; an unimportant person → 1785
► NOLA an unimportant person, one not worthy of consideration → 2006 S. Afr. homosexual sl.
► NYUCK an unimportant person → 1988 Sc. & Ulster usage
► PIE EATER an unimportant or contemptible person; a fool, an idiot → 1975 Aust. sl., derogatory
► PISS-ANT a mean, bad-tempered, or contemptible person; an unimportant person → 1903 now chiefly Amer.
► PUNK an inferior or unimportant person → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► PYGMY a person of very little importance, ability, etc.; a person who is insignificant or is deficient in a particular respect → 1592
► SAD BIRD a worthless, unimportant, or unscrupulous person → 1914 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SHOAT a person of no account → 1840 Amer.
► SHORT HORSE an unimportant person → 1916 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SLIPPER-TOE a no-good, unimportant person → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SMALL FISH a person or thing of relatively small importance or significance → 1836 colloq.
► SMALL FRY young or unimportant persons → 1652
► SMALLIE an unimportant or insignificant person → 1930 colloq., orig. US
► SPARROW-FART an inconsequential or unimportant person → 1922 Irish sl.
► SPEAR-CARRIER an unimportant participant → 1960 sl.
► THING-A-ME-TOY a person of small account → 1865 Eng. dial.
► TWO-BY-FOUR a person of no importance; an insignificant person or thing → 1885 Amer. dial.
► UNCO BODY a simple, unimportant person → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► WHIPPERSNAPPER a person of no consequence → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► WINDLESTRAW one who is thin or lanky, weak in health or character, or of little strength or importance → 1818 Sc.
► ZED an unimportant person → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► ZERO a person of no importance or consequence; a useless, worthless, or insignificant person; a nobody, a nonentity → 1650
PHRASES
► AIN’T SAYING NOTHING indicates that the subject is of no importance → 1970s African-American sl.
► DON’T AMOUNT TO A HANNAH COOK signifies unimportance or insignificance → 1907 Amer. dial.
► ISH KABIBBLE it’s of no importance to me, I couldn’t care less; of no importance or concern → 1913 Amer. dial.
► ISN’T THAT SPECIAL a dismissive phrase implying that ‘that’ is not special at all → 1980s US students’ sl.
► IT’S ERYSIPELAS TO ME it makes no difference to me, it’s unimportant → 1928 Amer. dial.
► IT’S NO HAIR OFF MY BALLS it’s of no consequence to me → 1963 US sl.
► IT’S NOTHING IN MY YOUNG LIFE it’s of no consequence to me → 1919 Amer. sl.
► NEITHER MASS NOR MATINS nothing of very serious import → 1528 obs.
► NO GREAT KILL-ER-CURE ► NO GREAT KILL OR CURE no great importance → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► NO SKIN OFF ONE’S BALLS of absolutely no importance to one → 1973 US sl.
► NO SKIN OFF ONE’S DICK of no importance → 1970s sl., orig. US
► NO SWEAT OFF ONE’S BALLS of absolutely no importance to one → 1936 US sl.
► NOT AMOUNT TO A HOLE IN THE SNOW said of an unimportant, worthless, or insignificant person → 1975 Amer. dial.
► NOT AMOUNT TO A PISS-HOLE IN THE SNOW said of an unimportant, worthless, or insignificant person → 1967 Amer. dial.
► NOT AMOUNT TO PISS IN THE SNOW said of an unimportant, worthless, or insignificant person → 1967 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A DUMP not care at all; regard as unimportant → 1908
► NOT TO MATTER A CUSS not to matter in the slightest; to be completely unimportant → 1918
► NOT TO MATTER A TWOPENNY DAMN ► NOT TO MATTER A TWOPENNY DUMP not to be worth any consideration → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
VERBS
► BE NOBODY’S NECK to be nobody’s business, to be of no consequence → 1867 Eng. dial.
► BEAT IN TIME to waste time; to busy oneself with unimportant things → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BEAT TIME to waste time; to busy oneself with unimportant things → 1965 Amer. dial.
► FLAG AWAY to consider unimportant; to brush aside → NZ
► FLAG BY to consider unimportant; to brush aside → NZ
► FLOCCIPEND to regard as insignificant, worthless, or of no account; to make no account of, to regard as unimportant or irrelevant → 1548
► MAKE NO NEVER MIND to be utterly unimportant → 1930s sl., orig. US
► MAKE ONE NO MIND to be of no importance or consequence to one → 1966 Amer. dial.
► MATTER A DIFFERENCE to be of no importance or consequence → 1934 Amer. dial.
► POOH-POOH to express contempt or disdain for; to ridicule; to dismiss as silly or unimportant → 1823
► SHOOT A BLANK ► SHOOT BLANKS to say something or to tell someone something that is of no interest to them → 1970s African-American sl.
► SHOOT A DUD to say something or to tell someone something that is of no interest to them → 1970s African-American sl.
► SHOOT DUDS to say something or to tell someone something that is of no interest to them → 1970s African-American sl.
► UNDERWHELM to arouse little or no interest in someone → 1956 UK jocular usage
► X OUT to dismiss something as no longer important or relevant → 1970s African-American sl.
Lexicophilia 