in dribs and drabsFEW/NOT MANYin small irregular amounts or numbers over a period of time 少量地,零星地
The guests arrived in dribs and drabs.
客人们三三两两地到来。
Examples from the Corpus
in dribs and drabs• The weddingguests were arrivingin dribs and drabs.• He insisted on paying me back in dribs and drabs, five or ten dollars at a time.• News of the accident is coming in in dribs and drabs.
Examples from the Corpus
dribs and drabs• Mayne's squadronassembled at Kufra in dribs and drabs by the beginning of October.
Origindribs and drabs
(1800-1900) Drib probably from drib“to fall in small drops”; → DRIBBLE1. Drabs probably from dribs