Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
in-dribs-and-drabs
idiom
/ɪn ˈdrɪbz ənd dræbz/
Definition
A phrase used to describe something that is received or happens slowly and in small amounts.
Examples
- She received her payment in dribs and drabs over several months.
- The project progressed in dribs and drabs, with updates coming infrequently.
- He only completed the renovations in dribs and drabs, making it a long process.
Meaning
The expression ‘in-dribs-and-drabs’ refers to something occurring in a scattered or unequal manner, rather than all at once.
Synonyms
- sporadically
- bit by bit
- piecemeal
- little by little
