small wonder
1
4.4
- idiom
- /smɔl ˈwʌndər/
- Informal
:
no es de extrañar
- In light of the recent controversies, it's small wonder that people are losing trust in the government.
Examples
-
It really is small wonder that so many big companies have moved their manufacturing outside the United States.
Blog text (28) -
It is no small wonder that students often find these two concepts difficult to understand and apply.
Academic text (2008) -
It is a small wonder that bicycle fatalities are lower as a percentage when compared to those of motorists.
Blog text (11) -
Reith remembered that none of the group had eaten for almost two days; small wonder they were listless and irritable.
Fiction book (1993) -
In an age where it's not unusual for professionals to be doing the work of two and sometimes three people, in addition to their childcare and eldercare responsibilities, it's a small wonder that there are so many stressed-out workers today.
Blog text (19) -
Given the harsh winter and rising prices, it's small wonder that many families are struggling to make ends meet.
-
After the long hours they spent working overtime, it's small wonder they were exhausted by the end of the week.
Synonyms
4
6.0
That is not surprising given the situation
Antonyms
How Surprising
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'not surprising' is directly derivable from combining 'small' (limited in degree) with 'wonder' (a feeling of surprise): a small amount of wonder implies that something is unsurprising or to be expected. This compositional relationship follows common evaluative patterns (e.g., 'little wonder', 'no wonder') and is likely accessible to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
The phrase small wonder uses small and wonder to imagine a very small surprise because the result was expected. So people say small wonder to mean 'not surprising' or 'to be expected'.