No Bigger Than a Minute

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "no bigger than a minute" means "very small" or "tiny." This long-documented folk simile compares size to the brevity of a minute.

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synonyms: tiny, little, petite, slight, small as can be

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'No bigger than a minute' is one of those real familiar ones that I can't remember if I heard or not. So it may be an old timers thing.

Pronunciation

[no BIG-ger than a MIN-it] /noʊ ˈbɪɡɚ ðən ə ˈmɪnɪt/

Meaning & Usage

- Very Small / Slight (folk simile)

Mae:

That pup’s no bigger than a minute.

Earl:

Sure is - fits in your palm.

- Used for People or Objects

Hazel:

She’s no bigger than a minute but tough as nails.

Ruby:

Don’t let her size fool you.

variations: no bigger’n a minute, small as a minute, no taller than a minute

★ This simile is older than many modern expressions and remains one of the most recognized Southern ways to say "tiny." You’ll often hear it with "no bigger’n" instead of "no bigger than." ★

Origin

Documented in the American South and Appalachia since the early 20th century, likely adapted from British and Irish "no bigger than" comparisons. Appears frequently in newspaper columns, novels, and oral histories.

Notes

Still very common across the South and Appalachia. Used for babies, small people, and small animals or objects. Often paired with other colorful similes ("no bigger’n a squirrel’s ear").

No bigger than a minute - standard phrasing
No bigger’n a minute - colloquial contraction
No taller than a minute - playful variant

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: often "no bigger’n a minute" with the words run together.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "no bigger than a minute" always mean small?

Yes - it’s a way to emphasize something is very small or slight.

Is it still used today?

Very much so - especially in casual speech, family talk, and storytelling.

Where is it most common?

Throughout the South and Appalachia, but it’s recognized widely thanks to its folksy style.

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