Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - bit

~1 n 1 »SLIGHTLY/FAIRLY« a bit informal, especially BrE a) slightly, but not very; a little  (Could you turn the radio down a bit, please? | Stay a bit longer - it's still early. | I think you're a bit young to be watching this. | a bit more/less)  (Would you like a bit more cake? | a bit like (=a little similar))  (She's a bit like my sister.) b) used when you mean `very' or `quite a lot', but you do not want to emphasize it too much  (It's all a bit depressing, really.) 2 »AMOUNT« informal, especially BrE a small amount, especially of something that is not a physical object + of  (Let me give you a bit of advice. | We may need a bit of help. | He still likes to do a bit of gardening.) 3 »PIECE« a small piece of something + of  (The floor was covered with bits of broken glass.) break/smash/blow sth to bits  (The bridge was blown to bits by the blast. | fall to bits)  (That old table's falling to bits.) 4 »PART« informal especially BrE a part or piece of something larger  (You can play on the grass, but keep off the muddy bits.) + of  (I liked the last bit of the film best.) 5 a good bit/quite a bit especially BrE a fairly large amount, or to a fairly large degree  (She knows quite a bit about European history. | She's quite a bit older than me.) 6 not a bit especially BrE not at all  (You're not a bit like your brother, are you? | I wasn't a bit worried.) 7 every bit as just as much as  (I think she's every bit as pretty as her sister.) 8 bit by bit especially BrE gradually  (It's a slow process, but we're getting there bit by bit.) 9 a bit at a time especially BrE in several small parts, not all at the same time  (Just do a bit at a time.) 10 »TOOL« the sharp part of a tool for cutting or making holes  (a drill bit) 11 »FOR A HORSE« a metal bar that is put in the mouth of a horse and used for controlling its movements 12 »COMPUTER« the smallest unit of information that can be used by a computer  (a 16-bit processor)  (- compare byte) 13 a bit part a very small and unimportant acting job in a play or film  (He got a bit part in `Coronation Street'.) 14 bits and pieces/bits and bobs BrE informal any small things of various kinds  (Let me get my bits and pieces together. | I still had a few bits and bobs of work left to do.) 15 do your bit BrE informal to do your share of the work that needs to be done  (I don't mind doing my bit, but I'm not organizing the whole thing on my own.) 16 get the bit between your teeth BrE to start doing something in a very determined way, so that you are not likely to stop until it is done  (Once she'd got the bit between her teeth, there was no stopping her.) 17 take the bit between your teeth AmE to make a determined effort to deal with something difficult or unpleasant  (I just have to take the bit between my teeth and start writing that essay.) 18 »US MONEY« a) AmE old use 12 cents  (I wouldn't give you two bits for that old book.)  (- see also two bits two (7)) b) BrE old use a small coin  (a threepenny bit) 19 »YOUNG WOMAN« also a bit of stuff/fluff/skirt spoken offensive expressions meaning a young woman, especially one who is sexually attractive 20 a bit of all right BrE informal used to describe someone you think is sexually attractive  (She's a bit of all right.) 21 a bit on the side BrE informal often humorous the girlfriend or boyfriend of someone who is already married or involved in a sexual relationship with someone else  (- see also be champing at the bit champ1 (2), a bit of rough rough1 (19)) 22 a bit of a problem/surprise/fool etc BrE a problem, surprise etc, but not a very big or serious one  (The party was a bit of a disappointment in the end. | I had a bit of a shock when I got home. | I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a hurry just now - I'll give you a ring later.) 23 with a bit of luck especially BrE if things go well and there are no problems  (With a bit of luck we should get it finished tomorrow.) 24 take a bit of doing/fixing etc BrE to be difficult to do, fix etc  (This new system takes a bit of getting used to, doesn't it?) 25 play the piano a bit/speak French a bit etc BrE to be able to play the piano, speak French etc, but not particularly well or often  (I used to act a bit when I was younger.) 26 for a bit/in a bit BrE for or after a short period of time  (Could you mind the baby for a bit? | I'll see in you in a bit then.) 27 a bit much BrE used to say that something is not fair or reasonable  (I thought it was a bit much, asking me to drive him all the way home.) 28 not a bit of it especially BrE used to say that something did not happen, even though you expected that it would  (He should at least have apologized, but not a bit of it!) 29 the student bit/travelling etc bit the behaviour or experience that is typical of a student, of travelling etc  (Then she gave us the concerned mother bit. | He's really gone in for the whole hippy bit.) ~2 the past tense of bite1