dribs and drabs

plural noun

1. small and usually irregular amounts:

   He repaid the loan in dribs and drabs.

dribs and drabs

/ drɪbz /

plural noun

1. small sporadic amounts

Idioms and Phrases

Bits and pieces, negligible amounts, as in There's not much left, just some dribs and drabs of samples . The noun drib is thought to be a shortening of driblet , for “drop” or “tiny quantity,” dating from the early 1700s, whereas drab meaning “a small sum of money” dates from the early 1800s.