dribs and drabs
/drɪbz (ə)n ˈdrabz
/plural noun (in dribs and drabs) informal
In small scattered or sporadic amounts: more folk followed in dribs and drabs...
- These cuts are being announced in dribs and drabs to disguise the biggest cutbacks since the grim days of the 1980s.
- Our warm-ups are properly organised, and get everyone totally prepared, whereas other teams tend to turn up in dribs and drabs.
- As the little ones crowded in dribs and drabs around the ‘project officers’ in the Physics room to solve the puzzles, it had an electric effect on the waiting crowd too as they became elated at the results.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from obsolete drib (see dribble) and drab (by reduplication).