表达 “in dribs and drabs” 描述 “事情三三两两、零零碎碎或一点一点地发生”，经常用来描述人群的出现、信息的传播或金钱的数额。

• The people arrived at the party in dribs and drabs. There was a problem with the trains and many people were delayed.
  人们三三两两地抵达了聚会的地方。火车出了问题，许多人都被耽搁了。
• Rather than pay her brother back in one lump sum, she paid him back in dribs and drabs.
  她没有一次还清她借哥哥的钱，而是零零碎碎地还给了他。
• The information about the story came through in dribs and drabs from several different sources.
  关于这个故事的信息是从几个不同的来源一点点传播开来的。