frying-pan, adj. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

frying-pan adj.

[shearer jargon frying-pan brand, a crude brand laid over the legitimate one by a cattle-thief; some rustlers literally used a red-hot frying pan]

(Aus. Und.) small-time, petty.

1864		J.F. Mortlock Experiences of a Convict (1965) 93: Some, unarmed, prowl about, watch the inmates of a dwelling away, and then pilfer. These are called ‘frying-pan’ bushrangers, being looked upon with much contempt.
1945		T. Ronan Strangers on the Ophir (1966) 46: Oh, just a frying-pan fighting man who blew in from Coronet with a silver cheque [GAW4].