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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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the magic words, "Drizzle Drazzle Druzzle Drome, time for this one to come home," -Tooter the Turtle from King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
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veteran
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veteran
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Pardon me for wandering off the subject briefly, but Hev's post brings up a favorite peeve of mine. These people on cooking shows are always saying something like, "Then we'll add just a little pinch of ..." and they chuck in about 2 tablespoonfuls. Or they say to add "a couple drops of ..." and dump in at least a quarter cup.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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>people on cooking shows...
...must do if for effect -- pinches and drops not showing up too well on camera.
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old hand
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old hand
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Hi Jackie.  I've heard "bits and dra ms" before, but in my world, drab = boring or lacking in personality, usually used in reference to muted colors or party poopers. "Drams" makes a kind of sense with regard to small units of measure. That this thread has been up as long as it has, and no one else has come up with the "drams" reference makes me wonder if *that's* completely obscure too. 
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newbie
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newbie
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I am also familiar with "dribs and drabs" as in "they are arriving in dribs and drabs" i.e. trickling in.
But nobody has mentioned "bits and bobs" as in odds and ends. Does this have its origins in coinage since both qualify as loose change?
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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FWIW, from Concise Oxford (all that is to hand):- Drab:1)Noun. Slut; slattern; prostitute. 2)Adj. Dull, light brown colour. 3)Noun. See drib.
Drib:- Noun. dribs and drabs, small, scattered amounts.
Dram:- Noun. =drachm; small drink of spirit etc.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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The same dictionary defines bits and bobs as being odds and ends. Although it gives the expected definition for bits the only connection for bobs appears to relate to short hair - either natural or in an old fashioned short wig.
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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summing up then: dribs and drabs has Scottish origins and usually refers to money (natch); bits and bobs, bits and bats, bits and pieces are all familiar (for odds and ends) in the UK, but only the latter is common in the US -- and never the twain shall meet, except with Jackie's mum. : )
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Joined: Jan 2002
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addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2002
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bits and bobs
Hey Phyllisstein, WELCOME back! Glad to see you back after a long time away... hey, guys & gals, we've got ourselves at least one South African after all. Who was asking about that a while ago?
I've heard bits and bobs before too. I haven't found it on any of the usual phraseology sites and google didn't turn up anything either. The 'bits' bit is obvious, I suppose, but what is 'bob' in this sense?
Does this have its origins in coinage since both qualify as loose change?
What kind of loose change? Have never heard either used in reference to money. Can you give an example, Phyllisstein?
Hev
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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A favorite expression of theatre folk, especially directors and techies, is "just a tad" as in 'could you move just a tad?' or 'bring the lights up just a tad?', etc. Tad, of course, meaning a little bit, or a smidgeon. bits and pieces crossthreadingBits and pieces Bits and pieces You'll never know How much I love you Bits and Pieces, The Dave Clark Five Your Happy Epeolatrist!
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