- bit
- bit1 W1S1 [bıt] adv, pron▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(only slightly)¦2¦(amount)¦3¦(quite a lot)¦4¦(time/distance)¦5 a bit of a something6 not a bit/not one bit7 every bit as important/bad/good etc8 bit by bit9 a/one bit at a time10 take a bit of doing/explaining etc11 be a bit much12 be a bit of all right13 bit on the side14 a bit of stuff/fluff/skirt15 a bit of rough▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(ONLY SLIGHTLY)¦a bitespecially BrEa) slightly or to a small degree= ↑a little▪ Could you turn the TV up a bit?▪ Try to relax a bit.▪ That's a bit odd.▪ 'Are you sorry to be leaving?' 'Yes, I am a bit.'▪ Aren't you being a little bit unfair?▪ I think you're a bit too young to be watching this.▪ She looks a bit like my sister.a bit better/older/easier etc▪ I feel a bit better now.b) sometimes, but not very often▪ I used to act a bit when I was younger.2.) ¦(AMOUNT)¦a bitespecially BrE informal a small amount of a substance or of something that is not a physical object= ↑a little a bit of▪ I may need a bit of help.▪ He still likes to do a bit of gardening.▪ I want to spend a bit of time with him before he goes.▪ With a bit of luck we should have finished by five o'clock.▪ Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement.▪ 'Would you like cream in your coffee?' 'Yes please, just a bit.'a bit more/less▪ Can we have a bit less noise please?see usage note ↑few3.) ¦(QUITE A LOT)¦quite a bit also a good bit BrEa fairly large amount or to a fairly large degree▪ She's quite a bit older than you, isn't she?▪ He knows quite a bit about painting.quite a bit of▪ I expect you do quite a bit of travelling?quite a bit more/less▪ They're worth quite a bit more than I thought.4.) ¦(TIME/DISTANCE)¦a bitespecially BrE a short period of time or a short distance= ↑a while▪ You'll have to wait a bit.in a bit▪ I'll see you in a bit.for a bit▪ We sat around for a bit chatting.▪ I walked on a bit and then turned back.5.) a bit of a sthespecially BrE used to show that the way you describe something is only true to a limited degree▪ The news came as a bit of a shock.▪ I felt a bit of a fool.▪ It looks like they left in a bit of a hurry.6.) not a bit/not one bitespecially BrE not at all▪ You're not a bit like your brother.▪ Am I cross? No, not a bit of it .▪ I'm not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.▪ Well, you haven't surprised me, not one bit.7.) every bit as important/bad/good etcespecially BrE used to emphasize that something is equally important, bad etc as something else▪ Jodi plays every bit as well as the men.8.) bit by bitespecially BrE gradually▪ Bit by bit, I was starting to change my mind.9.) a/one bit at a timeespecially BrE in several small parts or stages▪ Try to improve your lifestyle a bit at a time.10.) take a bit of doing/explaining etcBrE to be difficult to do, explain etc▪ The new system took a bit of getting used to.11.) be a bit muchBrE to be unacceptable, impolite, or unfair▪ It's a bit much when he criticizes us for doing something that he does himself.12.) be a bit of all rightBrE informal used to say that someone is sexually attractive13.) bit on the sideBrE informal someone's bit on the side is a person they are having a sexual relationship with, even though they already have a wife, husband, or partner - used humorously or to show disapproval▪ She stayed in the hope that he'd tire of his bit on the side.14.) a bit of stuff/fluff/skirtBrE informal not polite offensive expressions meaning a young woman, especially one who is sexually attractive15.) a bit of roughBrE informal someone of a lower social class that someone has a sexual relationship with - used humorously▬▬▬▬▬▬▬WORD CHOICE: a bit, a bit ofUse a bit before an adjective, not before a noun, nor before an adjective+noun : He's a bit shy (NOT a bit shy man).Before a noun or adjective+noun, use a bit of : Let's listen to a bit of music (NOT a bit music). |It was a bit of a strange decision (NOT a bit strange decision).You can also use a bit after the main verb : I cried a bit (NOT a bit cried).▬▬▬▬▬▬▬bit 2bit2 W1S1 n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(piece)¦2¦(part)¦3 to bits4¦(computer)¦5¦(tool)¦6¦(horse)¦7 bits and pieces8 do your bit9 get the bit between your teeth10¦(money)¦11 pull something to bits12¦(typical behaviour/experience)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Sense: 1-3, 7-12; Origin: Old English bita 'piece bitten off, small piece of food'][Sense: 4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: binary digit][Sense: 5-6; Origin: Old English bite 'act of biting']1.) ¦(PIECE)¦a small piece of somethingbit of▪ bits of broken glass▪ He wedged the door open with a bit of wood.break/rip/shake etc sth to bits▪ The aircraft was blown to bits.▪ He's taken the engine to bits .fall/come to bits▪ The old house was falling to bits.2.) ¦(PART)¦BrE informal a part of something larger▪ This is the boring bit.bit of▪ We did the last bit of the journey on foot.bit about▪ Did you like the bit about the monkey?3.) to bitsBrE informal very much or extremely▪ Mark's a darling, I love him to bits .thrilled/chuffed/pleased to bits▪ I've always wanted a car, so I'm thrilled to bits.4.) ¦(COMPUTER)¦the smallest unit of information that a computer uses▪ a 32-bit processor5.) ¦(TOOL)¦the sharp part of a tool for cutting or making holes▪ a drill bit6.) ¦(HORSE)¦the metal bar attached to a horse's ↑bridle that is put into its mouth and used to control it7.) bits and pieces also bits and bobs BrE informal any small things of various kinds▪ Let me get all my bits and pieces together.8.) do your bit informalto do a fair share of the work, effort etc that is needed to achieve something good or important▪ Everyone should do their bit for the environment.9.) get the bit between your teethBrE take the bit between your teeth AmEto do something or deal with something in a very determined way, so that you are not likely to stop until it is done10.) ¦(MONEY)¦a) two bits/four bitsAmE informal 25 cents or 50 centsb) BrE old-fashioned a small coin▪ a threepenny bit11.) pull sth to bitsBrE informal to criticize something strongly▪ The critics pulled his new play to bits.12.) ¦(TYPICAL BEHAVIOUR/EXPERIENCE)¦ informalused to mean a kind of behaviour or experience that is typical of someone or somethingthe (whole) student/movie star/travelling etc bit▪ Then she gave us the concerned mother bit.bit 3bit3the past tense of ↑bite
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.