rinky-dinks

Noun

rinky-dink (countable and uncountable, plural rinky-dinks)

1. (US, informal) An amateur or someone who is underqualified.
   • The point is that SCUBA diving is not for "rinky-dinks" ; it is for well trained people only, and then only in the company of other experienced divers.1962, Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, volume 33, Washington, D.C.: American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 37, column 3

   Synonyms:

   absolute zero, also-ran, chopped liver, cipher, crumb, Joe Nobody, little guy, minnow, nebbish, nobody

   Antonyms:

   baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big man, big name, big noise, big shot, bigwig

2. (US, informal) Someone who operates unethically; specifically, a small-time conman or crook.
   • In addition to such creeps, there is also found in various organizations an assortment of longhairs, corny antiques, arky back-numbers, moldy mossbacks, rinky-dinks, tintypes, schmoes and schmaltzes of all flavors.1958, News and Views, New York, N.Y.: General Motors Acceptance Corporation, →OCLC, page 30, column 1

   Synonyms:

   absolute zero, also-ran, chopped liver, cipher, crumb, Joe Nobody, little guy, minnow, nebbish, nobody

   Antonyms:

   baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big man, big name, big noise, big shot, bigwig

3. (US, countable, informal) Something that is not up to acceptable standards; something of low quality.
   • But when we start getting really into the "rinky-dinks" of this thing is when we get over here in the columns.1958, Proceedings of Progress in Measurement of Management Conference, October 31 – November 1, 1957, New York City, New York, N.Y.: Society for the Advancement of Management, →OCLC, page 84
4. (US, countable, informal) A miscellaneous object or thing; a thingy.
   • [H]e, […] had just ordered a Sennett. […] He wanted no detachable top of pleb[e]ian characteristics; he wanted two regular bodies, one for winter and one for summer. And he wanted a special color and a monogram and a whole lot of rinky-dinks that cost him money.1915 November 24, Ray W. Sherman, “Dodging Responsibility is Dodging Progress: Carrying Only Half the Burden is Not a 100% Performance—Reilly’s Revelation Surprises a Young Friend”, in Motor World...

   Synonyms:

   Sorted by number of Google hits, widget, hickey, gizmo, thingy, gimmick, thingie, jigger, gismo, gubbins

5. (US, archaic, informal, uncountable) Deceptive or underhanded rigmarole; deception, trickery; (countable) often preceded by the: an instance of this; a deception, swindle, a trick.
   • [H]e entered the realm of educational matters […] Two years of his life were spent at this elevating game, during which time he had only eighty-two fights with fond mothers who felt that he had been either neglectful of their particular children or had ruthlessly given them the rinky-dink.1901 June 6, “Insurance Fable. How to Be the Real Thing without Owning Mental Diamonds.”, in The Chronicle: A Weekly Insurance Journal, volume LXVII, number 23, New York, N.Y.: The Chronicle Company...

   Synonyms:

   deception, imposition, hype, deceit, dupery, fiddle, fetch, hocus-pocus, jugglery, legerdemain

See all 8 meanings of rinky-dink