little bit

a little bit

1. A small amount or portion (of something). A: "Would you like some ice cream, Jake?" B: "Just a little bit, please." I'm hoping to take a little bit of time off this summer to visit my family in New York.
2. To a small degree; somewhat. I'm a little bit hungry, but I don't want a huge dinner or anything. I'm sorry for snapping at you like that, I'm just a little bit tired is all.
See also: bit, little
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

little bit (of something)

a small amount; some. Can I have a little bit of candy? I need a little bit of time to finish this essay.
See also: bit, little
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a little bit
  • in a little bit
  • shade
  • a shade
  • a shade (something)
  • do (one's) bit
  • do bit
  • do one's bit
  • do your bit
  • not one little bit
References in classic literature
"They're a little bit too large and too mild -- like a cow's," said Phil cruelly.
But truly, truly, it's not my fault, or only my fault a little bit," she said, daintily drawling the words "a little bit."
It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see." So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out.
Miss Bates, let Emma help you to a little bit of tarta very little bit.
Wid that I giv'd her a big wink jist to say, "lit Sir Pathrick alone for the likes o' them thricks," and thin I wint aisy to work, and you'd have died wid the divarsion to behould how cliverly I slipped my right arm betwane the back o' the sofy, and the back of her leddyship, and there, sure enough, I found a swate little flipper all a waiting to say, "the tip o' the mornin' to ye, Sir Pathrick O'Grandison, Barronitt." And wasn't it mesilf, sure, that jist giv'd it the laste little bit of a squaze in the world, all in the way of a commincement, and not to be too rough wid her leddyship?
"Sing out no good little bit," the white man went on, more gently.
I can play from half past four to supper and after supper a little bit and Saturday afternoons.
The rabbits were always a little bit afraid of Pickles.
You look very much worried, and it would do you good to have a perfectly quiet day with the Aged - he'll be up presently - and a little bit of - you remember the pig?"
So I've only this here one little bit of adwice to give you.
And if you think it'll be safer for you if we don't let on to know you when we run across you, say the word and you'll see you can depend on us, and would ruther cut our hands off than get you into the least little bit of danger."
I liked the old ways best, but I was getting so I liked the new ones, too, a little bit. The widow said I was coming along slow but sure, and doing very satisfactory.
For the little bit of pork was a present from that excellent housewife, Miss Priscilla Lammeter, to whom he had this day carried home a handsome piece of linen; and it was only on occasion of a present like this, that Silas indulged himself with roast-meat.
If th' young gentlemen had been at home, I should a' thought they'd been setting their dogs at her, an' worried her, poor thing, as they did MANY a poor thing's cat; but I haven't that to be feared on now.' Nancy's eyes were better, but still far from well: she had been trying to make a Sunday shirt for her son, but told me she could only bear to do a little bit at it now and then, so that it progressed but slowly, though the poor lad wanted it sadly.
Don't you think that in time you might come to like me a little bit?"