English Idioms

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Dribs and drabs

Meaning

The idiom "dribs and drabs" refers to small or inconsequential amounts of something, often referring to a situation that is developing slowly and gradually. The phrase literally means "a little drizzle at a time," which describes the gradual nature of the process.

Usage

  • The company's profits have been dribbling in over the past few months.
  • We've received several small donations for our charity, but they're not enough to make a significant impact.
  • He's trying to learn French, but he's only picking up a few words at a time.
  • The restaurant has been receiving poor reviews lately, with customers complaining about the quality of the food.
  • The government has promised to invest more in education, but the funding is coming in dribs and drabs. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. It can be used to describe a situation that is gradually developing or progressing, or to describe a situation that is slow and unimpressive.

Roots and History

The idiom "dribs and drabs" has been in use for over 400 years. It originated from Old English "drabban," which means "to pour out slowly," and "dribbelan," which means "to drizzle." The phrase was used to describe a situation where something is coming in or being produced gradually, little by little. The meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent over time, although its usage may have evolved to include more metaphorical meanings.

Synonyms in English

  • In small doses
  • Gradually
  • Slowly
  • Rarely
  • Sporadically

Synonyms in other languages

  • Parlementarismer - French, meaning "parliamentarian" (used to describe someone who is slow and unimpressive)
  • Lento - Italian, meaning "slow"
  • Vozmi vovzmi - Russian, meaning "come on, come on" (used to encourage someone to hurry up)
  • Tschi-Ta-Ta - German, meaning "nothing happens" (used to describe a situation that is unimpressive)
  • Nada - Spanish, meaning "nothing" ( used to describe a situation that is unimportant or inconsequential)

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