sing small

Verb

sing small (third-person singular simple present sings small, present participle singing small, simple past sang small, past participle sung small)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To assume a humble tone.
   • By all that's good, I muſt myſelf ſing ſmall in her company!—I vvill never meet at hard-edge vvith her— […]1753 (indicated as 1754), [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVII. Miss Byron. In Continuation.”, in The History of Sir Charles Grandison. […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by C....
   • Then shoots through my enjoyment / The one sharp drop of gall: / The host—the cur, the heathen— / On 'Baccy singeth small.1877 October, “The Nicotian Lotos-eater. [From the German of Leistner.]”, in Cope’s Tobacco Plant. A Monthly Periodical, Interesting to the Manufactuerer, the Dealer, and the Smoker, volume II...
2. (idiomatic, intransitive) To not say anything; to keep quiet.
   • Deutschland sleeps: her star has waned. / France, the Thundress whilome, now / Singeth small, with bated breath.a. 1850 (date written), James Clarence Mangan, “An Invitation”, in Poems […], New York, N.Y.: P. M. Haverty, […], published 1859, →OCLC, page 436
3. (idiomatic, intransitive) To play a minor part.
4. (intransitive, obsolete, singing) To sing softly.
   • [A]re not moſt of our kings being vvhen they ſing ſmall and fine, after a puling maner, ſaluted Apolloes for their muſicke: […]1603, Plutarch, “How a Man may Discerne a Flatterer from a Friend”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, pages 93–94
   • I marvell'd ſhe ſung ſo ſmall indeed, being no Maid.c. 1623–1624 (date written), Tho[mas] Middleton, “Women Beware Women. A Tragedy”, in Two New Playes. […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, […], published 1657, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, page 180