From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishon the small/high/heavy etc sideon the small/high/heavy etc sidespokenLITTLE/NOT VERY a little too small, too high, too heavy etc The trousers are a bit on the small side. → side
Examples from the Corpus
on the small/high/heavy etc side• Also on the small side is the 14-gallon fuel tank.• The clams and mussels-four of each-are on the small side, but flavorful.• For political reasons, these estimates are on the high side.• The little one's a bit on the small side.• Burned by that experience, chip forecasters prepared their 1996 forecasts on the high side.• Both versions have the same size fuel tank, which, at 14. 5 gallons, is on the small side.• The only complaint we had with the shoe was the weight - it's on the heavy side.• The bedrooms, though on the small side, have recently been completed refurbished in sophisticated style. 