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IN/BY FITS AND STARTS definition: 1. If something happens in fits and starts, it often stops and then starts again: 2. If something…. Learn more.
FITS AND STARTS definition: periods of activity mixed with periods when nothing happens: . Learn more.
Definition of fits and starts in the Idioms Dictionary. fits and starts phrase. What does fits and starts expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.
The phrase “fits and starts” is a common idiom used to describe something that progresses in an irregular or sporadic manner. It can refer to anything from a project, to a relationship, to someone’s behavior. The origins of this idiom are not entirely clear, but it has been in use for several centuries.
Verb The suit fits him perfectly. I hope this key fits the lock. The two pieces fit each other perfectly. This calculator will fit nicely in your shirt pocket. The two pieces fit together perfectly. How many people can fit in a phone booth? The box was too large to fit through the door. I can't fit all these groceries into the trunk of my car.
The meaning of ‘fit’ when ‘fits and starts’ was coined, in the 17th century, was an earlier but milder version of that. It was then used to mean ‘a sudden state of activity (or inactivity) or state of mind’, as in this early example, taken from William Warner’s Albion’s England , 1586:
To do something in “fits and starts” is to do it intermittently or sporadically: “Martina has been working on her master's thesis in fits and starts; she needs to work on it consistently.”
Sep 28, 2024 · fits and starts pl (plural only) (idiomatic) Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions. Progress in this project has come in fits and starts.
Spasmodically; without concerted effort.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video.
Something that happens in fits and starts or by fits and starts keeps happening and then stopping again. My slimming attempts tend to go in fits and starts. Military technology advances by fits and starts.
