a small amount of something in English:

a fraction of the second

I got these shoes at a fraction of the original price.

What fraction of the whole apple is its half?

The weight of the world is a dangerous thing to try to bear. Take only a small fraction, and the rest of it will soon follow - crushing you.

When you divide numbers you get a fraction.

Where are the other apples? This is only a fraction of what we had yesterday.

Can you explain these fractions to me?

Captain Jim is never late by the fraction of a second," said Leslie.

The demonstration was peaceful until a small fraction of the crowd began throwing stones at the police.

This is a fraction of what we have to pay for anti-terrorism security measures!

3/4 is a fraction

Workers in developing countries produce many goods at a fraction of what it would cost in the USA or Europe.

Is 2/3 an improper fraction?

A proper fraction has the top number smaller than the bottom one.

Everybody always knows when the politicians do something wrong and how they should do it better, but only a tiny fraction of the population is ready to commit themselves to politics.

Let me try just a smidgen.

add a smidgen of cayenne

If you had a modicum of intelligence you would never have gone to that place.

Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Anna announced her boss’s affair to the entire office.

1. I'd like to think I've had a modicum of success 2. those things required for a basic modicum of psychological health, such as safety, love, status, belongingness, and self-esteem