rinky-dink UK /ˈɹɪŋ.kɪ.dɪŋk/US /ˈɹɪŋkiˌdɪŋk/noun 6adjective 3forms 1 noun6 •A person who is contemptible or insignificant. •(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 •(US, informal) Someone who operates unethically; specifically, a small-time conman or crook.The rinky-dink is the 'no problem' merchant who causes no end of trouble for everyone else in the organisation. He will promise anything to land a sale and in the process lands himself in the drink. — 2000 •(US, 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 •(US, informal) A miscellaneous object or thing; a thingy.Marilyn Monroe who was blonde and beautiful and had a sweet little rinky-dink of a voice and all the cleanliness of all the clean American backyards. She was our angel. — 1973 •(informal, no longer used) Deceptive or underhanded rigmarole; deception, trickery; (countable) often preceded by the: an instance of this; a deception, swindle, a trick.What's the matter with [Franklin Delano] Roosevelt and his Plan? / All the other reformers have them on the pan; / Fattened them up with printer's ink, / Then handed them the rinky dink. — 1911 adjective3 •(US, informal) Of poor quality; amateurish, shoddy, small-time.That rinky-dink shelf is likely to collapse if you fill it with books. •(US, informal) Old-fashioned, tired; also, shabby, worn-out. •(US, informal) Crooked, dishonest, underhanded.When NBC licensed his reruns to the Arts & Entertainment cable network without consulting him, he was incensed. "It was a rinky-dink deal," says a source. — 1992 formsrinky-dinks
