in/by fits and starts
Definition
› If something happens in fits and starts, it often stops and then starts again: Replies to the advertisement are arriving in fits and starts.Rarely and infrequently
(Definition of in/by fits and starts from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- (every) now and then/again idiom
- episodic adjective (EVENT)
- ever and anon adverb
- every determiner (REPEATED)
- few determiner, pronoun, noun, adjective (NOT MANY)
- infrequent adjective
- isolated adjective
- occasion noun
- occasional adjective
- occasionally adverb
- odd adjective (NOT OFTEN)
- once in a blue moon idiom
- once-in-a-lifetime adjective
- one-off adjective
- one-off noun
- rarely adverb
- seldom adverb
- sometimes adverb
- stop-go adjective
- time noun (OCCASION)
Topic:
Rarely & infrequently
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