Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
a small mind
English answer:
a (petty/narrow-minded/unimaginative) person
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
May 1, 2004 11:59
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
United States
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a small mind
English
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common expressions
I looked for this expression in the glossary to see what others had to say, but could not find it.
Does the term also include the meaning of narrow mindedness, or does simply refer to a person with little imaginative power? How about a person without vision?
Does the term also include the meaning of narrow mindedness, or does simply refer to a person with little imaginative power? How about a person without vision?
Responses
+18
3 mins
Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
New Zealand
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
New Zealand
Committed to the Customer
Native in: English (Variant: New Zealand) 
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
petty
Some context would help, but I tend to think of a "small-minded" person as someone who is petty, or maybe overly concerned with things that are very trivial.
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Note added at 8 mins (2004-05-01 12:07:59 GMT)
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Couple of definitions of \"petty\" from the American Heritage Dictionary, which I think also apply to small-mindedness:
Marked by narrowness of mind, ideas, or views.
Marked by meanness or lack of generosity, especially in trifling matters.
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Note added at 9 mins (2004-05-01 12:09:22 GMT)
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Definition of small-minded (same source):
1. Having a narrow or selfish attitude.
2. Characterized by pettiness or selfishness.
So there you go! The reference:
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entries/05/s...
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Note added at 22 mins (2004-05-01 12:22:01 GMT)
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There is also the saying \"Small things amuse small minds\", which refers to the way petty people get hung up on very minor issues. I have also heard it used in a context referring to immature people being amused by silly things.
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Note added at 8 mins (2004-05-01 12:07:59 GMT)
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Couple of definitions of \"petty\" from the American Heritage Dictionary, which I think also apply to small-mindedness:
Marked by narrowness of mind, ideas, or views.
Marked by meanness or lack of generosity, especially in trifling matters.
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Note added at 9 mins (2004-05-01 12:09:22 GMT)
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Definition of small-minded (same source):
1. Having a narrow or selfish attitude.
2. Characterized by pettiness or selfishness.
So there you go! The reference:
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entries/05/s...
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Note added at 22 mins (2004-05-01 12:22:01 GMT)
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There is also the saying \"Small things amuse small minds\", which refers to the way petty people get hung up on very minor issues. I have also heard it used in a context referring to immature people being amused by silly things.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you everyone. It appears that the expressions small mind and small-minded do have a good deal of versatility. Certainly petty was not on my list up until now, but I certainly can appreciate many people's conviction in this regard.
Then too, what prompted this question was the juxtaposition with big head or big-headed. Based on what everyone has written these are hardly opposites.
In the end small-minded and small-mindedness appear to be the more common dictionary entries. No wonder, I was having so much trouble finding a good definition!"
+6
6 mins
see comment
it only refers to someone unable to see the big picture (no or lillt imaginative power), a bit mean. To be narrow-minded is different.
Someone with no vision is a blind mind
Someone with no vision is a blind mind
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kim Metzger
: Another way to put it. Highly limited imaginative powers.
34 mins
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cheers Kim
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| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
35 mins
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cheers Vicky
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| agree |
Olliespost
: Yes. petty or mean, cheers,Olivia
1 hr
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cheers Olivia
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| agree |
Rajan Chopra
1 hr
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cheers Langclinic
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| agree |
DGK T-I
2 hrs
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cheers Giuli
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
2 hrs
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cheers Marju
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| agree |
Dino Lovric
3 hrs
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cheers Dino
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| disagree |
Refugio
: Small-minded encompasses all three: narrow-minded, lacking in imagination and vision
5 hrs
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no Ruth, it doesn't mean narrow minded. check up the definition and compare with narrow-minded.
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+2
2 hrs
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
&
English
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Webster weighs in with:
" having few and petty interests, narrow sympathies, or rigid outlook : lacking breadth of mind "
2 hrs
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, English, and 1 more.
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:
4
a pin head..pinhead
Wind Cave National Park Research Abstract
A Mind Reader, A Pin Head, and a Fool, The Story of "Professor" Johnstone's Visit to Wind Cave Farrell, Tom. 1988. A Mind Reader ...
www.nps.gov/ wica/Abstracts/Abstract-Farrell-Story_of_Professor_Johnstones_Visit_to_Wind_Cave.htm
10/09/03: Moby is a pin head
10/09/03: Moby is a pin head. Posted by: [email protected] (Spanky).
Eminem was right about him. Responses to this message: Eminem ...
www.mrcranky.com/movies/killbill/3.html
Definitions of pinhead on the Web:
an ignorant or foolish person
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
A Mind Reader, A Pin Head, and a Fool, The Story of "Professor" Johnstone's Visit to Wind Cave Farrell, Tom. 1988. A Mind Reader ...
www.nps.gov/ wica/Abstracts/Abstract-Farrell-Story_of_Professor_Johnstones_Visit_to_Wind_Cave.htm
10/09/03: Moby is a pin head
10/09/03: Moby is a pin head. Posted by: [email protected] (Spanky).
Eminem was right about him. Responses to this message: Eminem ...
www.mrcranky.com/movies/killbill/3.html
Definitions of pinhead on the Web:
an ignorant or foolish person
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
+2
7 hrs
having fixed opinions and refusing to consider new or different ideas
small-minded
adjective DISAPPROVING
having fixed opinions and refusing to consider new or different ideas:
He has some very small-minded opinions about foreigners
from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
adjective DISAPPROVING
having fixed opinions and refusing to consider new or different ideas:
He has some very small-minded opinions about foreigners
from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alexandra Tussing
3 hrs
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| agree |
chica nueva
: Also small-minded = selfish, petty, prejudiced, narrow-minded, etc (Collins Concise English Dictionary)
12 hrs
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