Bit by bit
Example: She cleaned the room bit by bit every afternoon.
Definition
"Bit by bit" is an expression meaning gradually or slowly, in small increments or stages. It describes actions or changes occurring stepwise over time, as in the example: She cleaned the room bit by bit every afternoon, indicating a gradual process.
Etymology
The phrase "bit by bit" comes from the word "bit," which originally meant a small piece or portion. Repeating "bit" emphasizes the incremental nature of an action. The phrase has been used in English since at least the 16th century to convey gradual progress or accumulation.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Bit by bit" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A1) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
