bit by bit

Idioms and Phrases

Also, little by little . Gradually, by small degrees, slowly. For example, The squirrels dug up the lawn bit by bit, till we had almost no grass , or Little by little he began to understand what John was getting at . The first term was first recorded in 1849, although bit in the sense of “small amount” is much older; the variant dates from the 1400s.

Example Sentences

"Coercive control is almost the most frightening bit of domestic abuse. You meet somebody, you think they’re wonderful, attractive, and love you, and then bit by bit they start to undermine you," says Queen Camilla.

From BBC

“As the only human character on the show, he’s evolving, and he evolved every year, bit by bit,” Guillén said.

From Los Angeles Times

"The playing style has changed bit by bit - they build up and press a bit more patiently now. It will be interesting to see how they maintain that."

From BBC

The true nature of what has happened is only likely to trickle out bit by bit from the Iranian authorities.

From BBC

For women who have already had their freedoms crushed bit by bit by a relentless series of decrees, it delivers another blow.

From BBC