What does "Bits and bobs" mean?

Miscellaneous small items (British) British term for various small things, similar to 'odds and ends.'

How do you use "Bits and bobs" in a sentence?

Just a few bits and bobs. Getting some bits and bobs. Bits and bobs to do. Bag of bits and bobs.

Bits and bobs

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Miscellaneous small items (British)

零碎的小物品（英国用语）

Objetos pequeños y variados (británico)

雑多な小物（イギリス英語）

잡동사니, 이것저것 (영국식 표현)

British term for various small things, similar to 'odds and ends.'

英国用语，指各种小东西，类似于'odds and ends'。

Expresión británica para varias cosas pequeñas, similar a 'odds and ends'.

様々な小さなものを表すイギリス英語。「odds and ends」に似ている。

여러 가지 자잘한 물건을 뜻하는 영국식 표현. 'odds and ends'와 비슷한 의미.

Examples

Just a few bits and bobs.
只是一些零碎东西
Solo unas cuantas cositas
ちょっとした細々したもの
이것저것 좀 있어.
Getting some bits and bobs.
买些零碎东西
Comprando algunas cositas
いくつか細々したものを買う
이것저것 좀 사려고.
Bits and bobs to do.
一些零碎事要做
Cositas que hacer
やるべき細々したこと
할 일이 이것저것 있어.
Bag of bits and bobs.
一袋杂物
Bolsa de cachivaches
雑多なものが入った袋
잡동사니가 든 가방.

Pronunciation

/bɪts ən ˈbɒbz/

Usage Guide

Context: miscellaneous, shopping, tasks

Tone: casual, British

✓ Do Say

Bits and bobs.
零碎东西
Cositas
細々したもの
잡동사니.
Few bits and bobs.
一些零碎
Unas cuantas cositas
いくつかの細々したもの
몇 가지 자잘한 것.
Various bits and bobs.
各种零碎
Varias cositas
様々な細々したもの
여러 가지 자잘한 것.

✗ Don't Say

British expression
British expression（英国用语）
Expresión británica
British expression（イギリス英語の表現）
영국식 표현
Americans say 'odds and ends'
Americans say 'odds and ends'（美国人说'odds and ends'）
Los americanos dicen 'odds and ends'
Americans say 'odds and ends'（アメリカ人は「odds and ends」と言う）
미국에서는 'odds and ends'라고 함

Common Mistakes

British expression
Americans say 'odds and ends'

Origin & History

British rhyming phrase for miscellaneous items. 'Bob' may be from old coin.

Etymology: British rhyming expression

First recorded: British expression from 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: 20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: British everyday speech; Very common

Regional notes: British expression. Americans say 'odds and ends.'

Variations

Bits and bobsFew bits and bobsSome bits and bobs