dribs and drabs

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 time

taxes 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.

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dribs and drabs
Small quantities at a time
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Main Entry: ↑drib

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dribs and drabs UK [ˌdrɪbz ən ˈdræbz] US noun
Phrase: in dribs and drabs

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['dribz and 'drabz]
plural n. in dribs and drabs informal in small scattered or sporadic amounts

doing the work in dribs and drabs

Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from obsolete drib (see dribble) and drab (by reduplication)

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dribs and drabs — see ↑dribs
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Main Entry: ↑drabs
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dribs and drabs
informal : small amounts that come or happen over a period of time

They received donations in dribs and drabs.

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Main Entry: ↑dribs

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • dribs and drabs — [ˌdrıbz ən ˈdræbz] n [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: Drib probably from drib to fall in small drops ; DRIBBLE1. Drabs probably from dribs] in dribs and drabs in small irregular amounts or numbers over a period of time ▪ The guests arrived in dribs and… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dribs and drabs — [ ,drıbz ən dræbz ] noun in dribs and drabs gradually and in small amounts or numbers: The guests began arriving in dribs and drabs …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • dribs and drabs — ► PLURAL NOUN (in phrase in dribs and drabs) informal ▪ in small scattered or sporadic amounts …   English terms dictionary

  • dribs and drabs — dribs′ and drabs′ n. pl. small and usu. irregular amounts …   From formal English to slang

  • dribs and drabs — [[t]drɪ̱bz ən dræ̱bz[/t]] PHRASE: PHR after v If people or things arrive in dribs and drabs, they arrive in small numbers over a period of time rather than arriving all together. [INFORMAL] It was a couple of months before I got any clients and… …   English dictionary

  • dribs and drabs —    If something comes in dribs and drabs, it arrives little by little, in small amounts or numbers.     Instead of the crowed expected, people arrived in dribs and drabs …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • dribs and drabs — noun (plural) in dribs and drabs in small irregular amounts or numbers over a period of time: The guests arrived in dribs and drabs …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • dribs and drabs — small and usually irregular amounts: He repaid the loan in dribs and drabs. * * * …   Universalium

  • dribs and drabs — plural noun (in phr. in dribs and drabs) informal in small sporadic amounts. Origin C19: from obs. drib (see dribble) and drab (by reduplication) …   English new terms dictionary

  • dribs and drabs — {n. phr.} Portions; small bits. * /John paid Oliver back what he owed him in dribs and drabs./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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