small game: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialised, primarily found in hunting contexts, outdoor writing, and metaphorical use in business/informal speech.
Quick answer
What does “small game” mean?
Animals hunted for sport or food that are smaller in size, as opposed to large game like deer or bear.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Animals hunted for sport or food that are smaller in size, as opposed to large game like deer or bear.
Can refer to any pursuit, activity, or target that is minor, trivial, or low-stakes compared to a larger, more significant counterpart.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more common in American English due to a stronger hunting culture. In British English, 'game' alone often implies birds like pheasant or grouse; 'small game' is used but is less central to the sporting lexicon.
Connotations
In both varieties, the core meaning is neutral/sporting. Metaphorically, it can carry a slightly dismissive or belittling connotation (e.g., 'that's small game').
Frequency
Low frequency in general corpora. Higher frequency in American English in specialised contexts (hunting magazines, regulations).
Grammar
How to Use “small game” in a Sentence
[Hunters/They] + [hunt/pursue] + small gameSmall game + [is/are] + [abundant/regulated]Consider + [something] + small gameVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “small game” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He often goes out to small-game at the weekend.
American English
- We plan to small-game in the state forest this fall.
adjective
British English
- He held a valid small-game licence.
American English
- She bought a .22 rifle for small-game hunting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'Acquiring that startup is small game for a conglomerate like ours.'
Academic
Rare. Possibly in environmental studies or anthropology discussing subsistence hunting.
Everyday
Metaphorical/informal: 'Arguing about who does the dishes is small game; we have bigger problems.'
Technical
In wildlife management and hunting regulations, specifying legal species, seasons, and bag limits.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “small game”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “small game”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “small game”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a small game'). It is generally non-count/collective. Confusing it with 'small-time' (which relates to level of operation, not target).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is in hunting, it is commonly used metaphorically to refer to any minor or less important target or pursuit.
Yes, though it is specialised and informal. It means 'to hunt small game' (e.g., 'We went small-gaming in the woods').
'Big game' refers to large animals like deer, elk, bear, or African wildlife. 'Small game' refers to smaller animals like rabbits, birds, and squirrels. Metaphorically, 'big game' means major targets or high-stakes pursuits.
Not inherently. In its literal sense, it is a standard hunting term. Metaphorically, calling someone's goals 'small game' could be dismissive or belittling, depending on context.
Animals hunted for sport or food that are smaller in size, as opposed to large game like deer or bear.
Small game is usually specialised, primarily found in hunting contexts, outdoor writing, and metaphorical use in business/informal speech. in register.
Small game: in British English it is pronounced /smɔːl ɡeɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /smɔːl ɡeɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He/She/It] is small game (compared to...)”
- “Don't waste your time on small game.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'game' where the pieces are small (like rabbits and squirrels), not large (like elephants or bears).
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE / TARGETS ARE PREY. A significant goal is 'big game'; a trivial one is 'small game'.
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical business context, what does 'small game' most likely refer to?