play small

play small (third-person singular simple present plays small, present participle playing small, simple past and past participle played small)

1. (figuratively) To play for low stakes; to aim low; to be unwilling to take risks; to be fearful.

   Antonym: play big

   Near-synonym: play it safe

• think small

• “play small”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.