Small potatoes是一个英语俚语，意为 “小事”或“微不足道的事情”。它常用来形容不重要或不起眼的事物、问题或个体。
这个短语的来源有几种解释。
一种观点认为，它与农业有关，源于土豆的大小。土豆在各种作物中可能被认为是相对较小和平凡的，因此"small potatoes"可能就是指一件不起眼或微不足道的事情。
另一种解释则将其归因于美国20世纪初的黑社会和赌博文化。当时，一些赌场的筹码（potatoes）被分为不同面值，其中小面值的筹码往往比较不值钱。因此，这个短语可能原本是由赌场之间的人们使用，意味着较低价值或不重要的赌注。
还有一种说法认为，“small potatoes”最早起源于爱尔兰的农民社区。在农村地区，土豆是主要的农作物之一，而小土豆往往被认为相对次要或不值得一提。因此，这个短语的起源可能与这种文化背景有关。
无论具体来源如何，"small potatoes"现在已经成为一个常见的俚语，并在英语口语和书面语中使用广泛。它用来形容那些琐碎、不重要或微不足道的事情，以强调其相对于更重要问题的次要性。
总而言之，"small potatoes"是一个源自 农业、赌博文化或地方传统的俚语。它成为了描述不重要事物的常用短语，反映了人们对于事情重要程度的相对评估。虽然小土豆可能在尺寸上较小，但这个词组在英语社区中却承载着一定的意义和表达方式。
"Small potatoes" is an English slang term that means "trivial matters" or "insignificant things". It is often used to describe unimportant or inconspicuous things, issues, or individuals.
The phrase has several explanations for its origin. One viewpoint suggests that it is related to agriculture and stems from the size of potatoes. Potatoes may be considered relatively small and ordinary among various crops, hence "small potatoes" could refer to something petty or inconsequential.
Another explanation attributes its origin to the early 20th-century underworld and gambling culture in the United States. During that time, chips (potatoes) in some casinos were divided into different denominations, with lower-value chips often being less valuable. Therefore, this phrase might have originated among those involved in the casino scene, signifying a low-value or unimportant wager.
Yet another theory suggests that "small potatoes" originated from rural farming communities in Ireland. In rural areas, potatoes were a primary crop, and small potatoes were often regarded as relatively secondary or not worth mentioning. Thus, the phrase's origin could be linked to this cultural background.
Regardless of the specific origin, "small potatoes" has now become a commonly used idiom in English, both in spoken and written language. It is used to describe trivial, unimportant, or insignificant matters, emphasizing their minor importance compared to more significant issues.
In conclusion, "small potatoes" is a slang term that likely originates from agriculture, gambling culture, or local traditions. It has become a widely used phrase to describe unimportant things, reflecting people's relative assessment of the importance of matters. While small potatoes may be small in size, the phrase carries a certain significance and mode of expression within English-speaking communities.
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