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I just now used one of my mother's expressions, 'bits and drabs'. Does anyone know where the 'drabs' came from? I did a Search and found that of troy used dribs and drabs, which I have also heard. Dribs...possibly from dribbles? Driblets? What expressions for little pieces do you-all use?
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I, like troy, know the phrase as "dribs and drabs".
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"A little Dab'l do ya"
From a 'Brylcreem' brand hair *goo ad.
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En Español:
un tantito- from the latin tantus, meaning an indefinite quantity, using the ito ending makes it even smaller
un pellizco(pellizquito)- a pinch
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'bits and drabs' ... dribs and drabs
I'm more familiar with the latter of the two, Jackie. It sounds like 'bits and drabs' is a combination of 'bits and pieces' and 'dribs and drabs'.
I use the word 'tad' a lot... or a tad, as the case may be.  I think it's one of those 'hard to apply a quantity to' words. I saw a cooking show last night where the chef tried very unsuccessfully to quantify terms like dash, tad, sprinkle and pinch, for recipes. It seems they are all relative, or contextual ... or sumfin'. 
Hev
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I use bits and pieces, a tad, or just a pinch. My grandmother always said "a tinch", meaning "a tiny pinch". But I must admit to never hearing the phrase "bits and drabs". 
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"bits and drabs" must be a fig-newton of J's imagination.
(just linking threads :)
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I've never used drabs or dribs. But, like Angel, bits and pieces, little bits, pinches, a dash or this or a dash or that, sprinkles, just those things that have already been mentioned.
But it makes me think of mosaics and tessera--other bits of things like that artistic--and dappled sunlight, the light being in spots--and speckles and freckles--pointillism--spots and dots--particles and particulate--grains and sand--pebbles and pimples (ugh!)...
But generally: Just bits and pieces! (And now you've given me drabs! Dribs and drabs! (Since there's a dribble and a drizzle, wonder whether there's a drabble or a drazzle?)
Blotched regards,
WW
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>wonder whether there's a drabble or a drazzle?
don' know 'bout that, dub, but now I'm completely frazzled.
()
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enthusiast
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I've always liked smidgen, shortened to smidge
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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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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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>people on cooking shows...
...must do if for effect -- pinches and drops not showing up too well on camera.
()
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Isn't it interesting that all these terms for little bits of things are themselves brief words? We never call them, say, whatchamacallits-and-thingamabobs.
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I'm just a whit befuddled how I missed whit. Your Happy Epeolatrist!
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Gee, you people are wonderfully friendly! Thanks for the effusive and colourful welcome. I now know exactly how the prodigal son felt: very chuffed... and a little guilty about his long absence.
As to "bits and bobs", I was just guessing an etymology connected to coins. "Bits" as in the US slang (two bits make a quarter) and "bobs" as in the old UK shilling.
BTW what's with this spelling checker? Why does it think I may mean "egalitarian" when I type "effusive". Not even I have that much finger trouble.
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Ms. Phyllisstein, I am utterly delighted that you have returned! I'm told that if Enigma doesn't have the word you put, it offers the next one on its list.
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You can add odds and sods to your list.
Bingley
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Oh Bingley, you beat me to it!
Now I'm out of two parters, so I'll have to go for 'tidbits' - although tidbits are usually tasty and tempting whereas 'odds and sods' are just the dregs.
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