- dribs and drabs
- n.pl. colloq. small scattered amounts (did the work in dribs and drabs).
Etymology: as DRIBBLE + drab redupl.
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noun plural: miserably small or paltry amounts, portions, or fragments usually scattered over a period of timetaxes collected in dribs and drabs
set to dribs and drabs of Meyerbeer's music — Douglas Watt
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small and usually irregular amounts: He repaid the loan in dribs and drabs.* * *
dribs and drabsSmall quantities at a time• • •Main Entry: ↑drib* * *
dribs and drabs UK [ˌdrɪbz ən ˈdræbz] US nounPhrase: in dribs and drabs* * *
['dribz and 'drabz]plural n. in dribs and drabs informal in small scattered or sporadic amountsdoing the work in dribs and drabs
Origin:* * *
dribs and drabs — see ↑dribs• • •Main Entry: ↑drabs————————dribs and drabsinformal : small amounts that come or happen over a period of timeThey received donations in dribs and drabs.
• • •Main Entry: ↑dribs
Useful english dictionary. 2012.