bijou problemette

9.9

A very small, unimportant difficulty said as a joke

noun
/ˈbiːʒuː ˌprɒbləˈmɛt/

Informal

: pequeño problema

We had a bijou problemette with the event schedule, but everything went smoothly after that.

Examples

The designer faced a bijou problemette when the colors didn't match perfectly.
Fixing the printer was just a bijou problemette that took a few minutes.
It was only a bijou problemette, so there was no need to panic.
That's just a bijou problemette!
We encountered a bijou problemette during our trip.
The team handled a small bijou problemette with the presentation slides before the meeting started.
She described the delay as merely a bijou problemette, and not something to worry about.

Synonyms

problem

vsbijou problemette

∞ 1.2

A situation that causes trouble and needs a solution

is narrower, meaning a tiny, humorous difficulty rather than any broad trouble

problemo

vsbijou problemette

Slang

12 8.7

A playful informal word for a small problem

refers to a very small, lightly humorous difficulty instead of any serious one

spot of bother

vsbijou problemette

2 4.8

A small problem that causes some trouble

is reserved for a very small, often amusing difficulty rather than ordinary trouble

bagatelle

vsbijou problemette

Literature

1 9.9

A small unimportant thing not worth worrying about

applies to a tiny, amusing trouble rather than a general trivial item

Antonyms

crisis

∞ 3.1

A very dangerous or difficult time when quick decisions are needed

major issue

51 3.2

An important problem that needs a solution

How Serious

disaster

∞ 1.0

crisis

∞ 3.1

major issue

51 3.2

problem

∞ 1.2

bijou problemette

Informal

9.9

non-issue

5.0

Surface Forms

bijou problemette singular

bijou problemettes plural

Morphology

bijou + problemette

The sense 'a very small or minor problem' is compositionally derivable: 'bijou' is a borrowed adjective/noun meaning small or delicate, and 'problemette' clearly invokes 'problem' with a diminutive -ette, so the overall meaning follows from the parts. However, both elements are low-frequency/foreign-derived and the coinage 'problemette' is nonce and may not be recognized by B1 learners without morphological awareness, so comprehension is only partially straightforward.

Etymology

Bijou problemette may come from French words: bijou means 'jewel', small and pretty, and the ending -ette makes problem sound little. So the phrase paints the image of a tiny, cute problem, which is why people use it to mean 'a very small or minor problem'.