little old

English

Alternative forms

• little ol', little ole
• li'l' old, li'l' ol', li'l' ole
• li'l old, li'l ol', li'l ole
• lil old, lil ol', lil ole

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Adjective

little old (not comparable)

1. (US, Southern US, idiomatic, informal) Emphatically, affectionately, or humorously little; ordinary or harmless (especially when trying to downplay the importance of something).

   Well aren't you just a little old sweetheart?

   A: I love your dress! B: What, this little old thing?

   How about a little old game of pool?

   • 1909, Rowland Thomas, The Little Gods, page 280:

     You brought the best little old news you'll ever tote. Secretario, if you never promulgate worse news than that, you'll boost your circulation a thousand a day.

   • 1915 August 14, Roy K. Moulton, “On the Spur of the Moment: Appearances”, in The Day (New London), page 9:

     They found afterward to their regret that he was the finest little old poker player that ever struck the village and he carried away a suitcase of yellow-backed bills.

   • 1949 May 16, Walt Kelly, Pogo (comic strip):

     [Pogo:] I'm takin' care of this li'l' ol' backward child.

   • 1976, Richard West, “The Best of Texas”, in Texas Monthly, volume 4, number 7, page 103:

     We Texans have always bragged about having the best little old this and the best little old that.

   • 1992, Henry I. Christ, Building Power in Reading, page 131:

     Well, you nice people, I'm going to let you in on a secret and show you why this kitchen knife is the best little ole product you can get.

   • 1995, Rose Clayton, editor, Elvis Up Close: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best, page 13:

     Christine Roberts Presley: Elvis was the best little ol' thing. He was so polite.

   • 1999, “College Basketball: Men's Roundup; Jarvis Keeps His Focus on Tough Road Ahead”, in New York Times:

     While still marveling over the magnificent overtime victory his team had over St. John's Sunday, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski turned immediately to worrying about what was ahead. […] Duke plays a little old game against North Carolina tonight.

   • 2010, J. Cole, Friday Night Lights (mixtape), "You Got It" lyrics:

     Last time I seen you, you was a little old girl / I had a crush now we grown and we still so thorough

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see little,‎ old.

   This joke is getting a little old.

Usage notes

Used more often (and in more constructions) in the Southern United States.

Antonyms

• big old, big ole, big ol'

Derived terms

• little old lady
• little old me, little old moi

Translations

little - emphatically, affectionately, or humorously

• Finnish: pikku (fi)
• Spanish: ínfimo (es), menudo (es), baladí (es), irrisorio (es)

References

• “little old”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.