bit

Universal Words noun small amount 1 (a bit) [sing.] (used as an adverb) (especially BrE) rather; a little: These trousers are a bit tight. * 'Are you tired?' 'Yes, I am a bit.' * It costs a bit more than I wanted to spend. * I can lend you fifty pounds, if you want. That should help a bit. 2 (a bit) [sing.] (especially BrE) a short time or distance: Wait a bit! * Can you move up a bit? * Greg thought for a bit before answering. 3 [C] ~ of sth (especially BrE) a small amount or piece of sth: some useful bits of information * With a bit of luck, we'll be there by 12. * I've got a bit of shopping to do. * a bit of cake * bits of grass / paper part of sth 4 [C] (especially BrE) a part of sth larger: The best bit of the holiday was seeing the Grand Canyon. * The school play was a huge success-the audience roared with laughter at all the funny bits. large amount 5 [sing.] a ~ (of sth) (informal, especially BrE) a large amount: 'How much does he earn?' 'Quite a bit!' * The new system will take a bit of getting used to (= it will take a long time to get used to). computing 6 [C] the smallest unit of information used by a computer for horse 7 [C] a metal bar that is put in a horse's mouth so that the rider can control it tool 8 [C] a tool or part of a tool for DRILLING (= making) holes seealsoDRILL money 9 (AmE, informal) an amount of money equal to 12ｽ cents seealsoBITE, BIT, BITTENv. IDIOMS the (whole)...bit (informal, disapproving) behaviour or ideas that are typical of a particular group, type of person or activity: She couldn't accept the whole drug-culture bit. bit by bit a piece at a time; gradually: He assembled the model aircraft bit by bit. * Bit by bit memories of the night came back to me. a bit much (informal) not fair or not reasonable: It's a bit much calling me at three in the morning. * The noise from next door is getting a bit much. a bit of a... (informal, especially BrE) used when talking about unpleasant or negative things or ideas, to mean 'rather a...': We may have a bit of a problem on our hands. * The rail strike is a bit of a pain. a bit of all right (BrE, slang) a person that you think is sexually attractive: Dave's new girlfriend is a bit of all right, isn't she? a bit of rough (BrE, slang) a person of a low social class who has a sexual relationship with sb of a higher class a bit on the side (BrE, slang) the boyfriend or girlfriend of sb who is already married or in a steady sexual relationship with sb else: Is he your bit on the side? bits and pieces / bobs (BrE, informal) small objects or items of various kinds: She stuffed all her bits and pieces into a bag and left. do your bit (informal) to do your share of a task: We can finish this job on time if everyone does their bit. every bit as good, bad, etc. (as sb/sth) just as good, bad, etc.; equally good, bad, etc: Rome is every bit as beautiful as Paris. * He's every bit as clever as she is. get the bit between your teeth (informal) to become very enthusiastic about sth that you have started to do so that you are unlikely to stop until you have finished not a bit