dribs and drabs

D

dribs and drabs (reduplicative idiom / rhyming doublet)
/ˌdrɪbz ən ˈdræbz/

Meanings

• In small amounts at a time.
• Little by little; not all at once.
• In scattered or irregular portions.
• In small incomplete bits or fragments.
• Small leftover pieces (literal sense, rare).

Synonyms: little by little; bit by bit; gradually; piecemeal; in installments; in fragments; sporadically; in small quantities.

Example Sentences

1. The donations came in dribs and drabs, so the charity had to wait months to reach its goal.
2. He paid off his debt in dribs and drabs, sending whatever he could afford each week.
3. New information about the case was released in dribs and drabs, which kept the public guessing.
4. Guests arrived in dribs and drabs, rather than showing up together.
5. Only dribs and drabs of coffee remained at the bottom of the pot. (literal)

Etymology and Origin

The idiom “dribs and drabs” refers to small, intermittent quantities or amounts that occur sporadically over time. It combines two nouns, each denoting a minor or negligible portion. The first component derives from a dialectal term meaning a drop or an inconsiderable quantity, likely evolving as a variant of words associated with dripping or falling in tiny increments. The second element, in this context, signifies a small sum or petty amount, possibly adapted from regional usages related to minor debts or fragments. Together, they form a reduplicative expression, where the pairing enhances rhythmic emphasis, though some interpretations suggest the latter term may simply echo the former for phonetic appeal rather than distinct semantic origin.

Theories on Origin

One prevailing belief posits that the expression emerged from colloquial speech in regional dialects, where terms for small drops or portions were common in everyday language.

It is thought to reflect practical observations of gradual accumulation, such as in financial or material contexts, without ties to artistic or unrelated fields like undyed cloth or personal untidiness.

Another perspective views the pairing as an intentional linguistic device for memorability, with no direct connection to broader concepts of dullness or mire.

These ideas highlight its roots in informal, oral traditions before formal documentation.

Country of Origin

The phrase first emerged in the linguistic traditions of the United Kingdom, particularly within dialects spoken in regions such as England, Scotland, and Ireland. Its initial appearances align with cultural and economic contexts prevalent in these areas during the period.

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest documented appearance in print occurs in a work on rural economics published in 1823. Titled “Cottage Economy,” it was authored by William Cobbett. In paragraph 30, the phrase is used in the following quotation:

“The tea drinking has done a great deal in bringing this nation into the state of misery in which it now is; and the tea drinking, which is carried on by ‘dribs’ and ‘drabs;‘ by pence and farthings going out at a time; this miserable practice has been gradually introduced by the growing weight of the taxes on Malt and on Hops, and by the everlasting penury amongst the labourers, occasioned by the paper-money.”

This instance employs the expression to critique incremental expenditures in daily life.

Variants

• by dribs and drabs
• drib and drab (rare, older form)

Important

Last update: February 21, 2026 6:57 AM