sing small

From sing + small (“in a small fashion; (obsolete) in a low tone, softly”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sɪŋ ˈsmɔːl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /sɪŋ ˈsmɔl/, (cot–caught merger) /-smɑl/
• Rhymes: -ɔːl

sing small (third-person singular simple present sings small, present participle singing small, simple past sang small, past participle sung small) (intransitive)

1. (idiomatic)
   1. To assume a humble tone.
      • 1753 (indicated as 1754), [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVII. Miss Byron. In Continuation.”, in The History of Sir Charles Grandison. […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by C. Hitch and L. Hawes, […], →OCLC, page 111:

        By all that's good, I muſt myſelf ſing ſmall in her company!—I vvill never meet at hard-edge vvith her— […]

      • 1877 October, “The Nicotian Lotos-eater. [From the German of Leistner.]”, in Cope’s Tobacco Plant. A Monthly Periodical, Interesting to the Manufactuerer, the Dealer, and the Smoker, volume II, number 91, Liverpool, Lancashire: John Fraser, →OCLC, page 86, column 2:

        Then shoots through my enjoyment / The one sharp drop of gall: / The host—the cur, the heathen— / On 'Baccy singeth small.

   2. To not say anything; to keep quiet.
      • a. 1850 (date written), James Clarence Mangan, “An Invitation”, in Poems […], New York, N.Y.: P. M. Haverty, […], published 1859, →OCLC, page 436:

        Deutschland sleeps: her star has waned. / France, the Thundress whilome, now / Singeth small, with bated breath.

   3. To play a minor part.
2. (singing, obsolete) To sing softly.
   • 1603, Plutarch, “How a Man may Discerne a Flatterer from a Friend”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, pages 93–94:

     [A]re not moſt of our kings being vvhen they ſing ſmall and fine, after a puling maner, ſaluted Apolloes for their muſicke: […]

   • c. 1623–1624 (date written), Tho[mas] Middleton, “Women Beware Women. A Tragedy”, in Two New Playes. […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, […], published 1657, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, page 180:

     I marvell'd ſhe ſung ſo ſmall indeed, being no Maid.

   • 1870, J. P. Robson, “The Poet’s Photograph”, in Evangeline: Or, The Spirit of Progress; […], Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland: […] J. M. Carr, […], →OCLC, page 236:

     The Poet culls that dainty flowers; he saileth on the floods; / Leaps with the fountain's ecstacy,^{[sic – meaning ecstasy]} and dwelleth in the woods; / Launcheth his barque of hopeful song, nor dreads the roaring fall; / Singing with lark and nightingale, though oft he singeth small.

• play second fiddle

• “to sing small, phrase” under “small, adv.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2022.