bit S1 W1 / bɪt / 副词 , 代词 #

1 only slightly a bit especially British English

a) slightly or to a small degree 同义词 a little :

Could you turn the TV up a bit?

That’s a bit odd.

‘Are you sorry to be leaving?’ ‘Yes, I am a bit.’

Aren’t you being a little bit unfair?

I think you’re a bit too young to be watching this.

She looks a bit like my sister.

a bit better/older/easier etc

I feel a bit better now.

b) sometimes, but not very often :

I used to act a bit when I was younger.

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In written English, people usually avoid a (little) bit and use slightly , rather , or somewhat instead:

This system is slightly more efficient.

The final cost was somewhat higher than expected.

2 amount a bit especially British English informal a small amount of a substance or of something that is not a physical object 同义词 a little

a bit of

I may need a bit of help.

He still likes to do a bit of gardening.

I want to spend a bit of time with him before he goes.

With a bit of luck, we should have finished by five o’clock.

Everyone needs a little bit of encouragement.

‘Would you like cream in your coffee?’ ‘Yes please, just a bit.’

a bit more/less

Can we have a bit less noise, please?

3 quite a lot quite a bit ( also a good bit British English ) a fairly large amount or to a fairly large degree :

She’s quite a bit older than you, isn’t she?

He knows quite a bit about painting.

quite a bit of

I expect you do quite a bit of travelling?

quite a bit more/less

They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought.

4 time/distance a bit especially British English a short period of time or a short distance 同义词 a while :

You’ll have to wait a bit.

I walked on a bit

in a bit

I’ll see you in a bit.

for a bit

We sat around for a bit, chatting.

5 a bit of a something especially British English used to show that the way you describe something is only true to a limited degree :

The news came as a bit of a shock.

I felt a bit of a fool.

It looks like they left in a bit of a hurry.

6 not a bit/not one bit especially British English not at all :

You’re not a bit like your brother.

Am I cross? No, not a bit of it .

I’m not in the least bit interested in whose fault it is.

Well, you haven’t surprised me, not one bit.

7 every bit as important/bad/good etc especially British English used to emphasize that something is equally important, bad etc as something else :

Jodi plays every bit as well as the men.

8 bit by bit especially British English gradually :

Bit by bit, I was starting to change my mind.

9 a/one bit at a time especially British English in several small parts or stages :

Memorize it a bit at a time.

10 take a bit of doing/explaining etc British English to be difficult to do, explain etc :

The new system took a bit of getting used to.

11 be a bit much British English to be unacceptable, impolite, or unfair :

It’s a bit much when he criticizes us for doing something that he does himself.

12 be a bit of all right British English informal used to say that someone is sexually attractive

13 bit on the side British English informal someone’s bit on the side is a person they are having a sexual relationship with, even though they already have a wife, husband, or partner – used humorously or to show disapproval :

She stayed, in the hope that he’d tire of his bit on the side.

14 a bit of stuff/fluff/skirt British English informal not polite offensive expressions meaning a young woman, especially one who is sexually attractive

15 a bit of rough British English informal someone of a lower social class that someone has a sexual relationship with – used humorously

Grammar a bit, a bit of

Use a bit before an 形容词 , not before a 名词 or an 形容词 and 名词 :

He’s a bit shy (NOT a bit shy man).

Before a 名词 or an 形容词 and 名词 , use a bit of :

There was a bit of trouble (NOT a bit trouble).

It was a bit of a strange decision (NOT a bit strange decision).

You can also use a bit after a 动词 or its object :

I cried a bit (NOT a bit cried).

bit S1 W1 noun [可数名词] #

1 piece a small piece of something bit of bits of broken glass He wedged the door open with a bit of wood. break/rip/shake etc something to bits The aircraft was blown to bits. He’s taken the engine to bits . fall/come to bits The old house was falling to bits. 2 part British English informal a part of something larger :
This is the boring bit. bit of We did the last bit of the journey on foot. bit about Did you like the bit about the monkey? 3 to bits British English informal very much or extremely :
Mark’s a darling – I love him to bits . thrilled/chuffed/pleased to bits I’ve always wanted a car, so I’m thrilled to bits. 4 computer the smallest unit of information that a computer uses :
a 32-bit processor 5 tool the sharp part of a tool for cutting or making holes :
a drill bit 6 horse the metal bar attached to a horse’s bridle that is put into its mouth and used to control it → be champing at the bit at champ 1 ( 2 ) 7 bits and pieces ( also bits and bobs British English ) informal any small things of various kinds :
Let me get all my bits and pieces together. 8 do your bit informal to do a fair share of the work, effort etc that is needed to achieve something good or important :
Everyone should do their bit for the environment. 9 get the bit between your teeth British English , take the bit between your teeth American English to do something or deal with something in a very determined way, so that you are not likely to stop until it is done 10 money a) two bits/four bits American English informal 25 cents or 50 cents b) British English old-fashioned a small coin 11 pull something to bits British English informal to criticize something strongly :
The critics pulled his new play to bits. 12 typical behaviour/experience informal used to mean a kind of behaviour or experience that is typical of someone or something the (whole) student/movie star/travelling etc bit Then she gave us the concerned mother bit. 13 be in bits British English spoken informal to be extremely upset because something unpleasant or disappointing has happened :
She was in bits after the race, and looked totally gutted.

COLLOCATIONS

adjectives a little/tiny bit The floor was covered in tiny bits of glass.

verbs fall/come to bits (= separate into many different parts because of being old or damaged ) The book was so old that I was afraid it would fall to bits. break/smash to bits The vase fell and smashed to bits on the concrete floor. rip/tear something to bits She grabbed the letter and ripped it to bits. be blown to bits (= by a bomb ) A bus shelter nearby was blown to bits. take something to bits (= separate the parts of something ) Tony loves taking old radios and computers to bits.

bit #

the past tense of bite