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bit

bit

4 7.6
A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth to control it
  • noun
  • /bɪt/
: bocado
  • And we got to get the bit in the mouth.
  • horse bit
  • bridle and bit
  • bit and reins

Examples

  • The head of a horse in the foreground, shaking its head, uncomfortable with the bit in its mouth.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The horse flung up its head, reared, and veered sidelong, and Randy hauled savagely on the bit.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • My master got the bit into my mouth and the bridle fixed.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Now it was Saturday morning, and the colt was already responding to the bit and reins.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Jed's horse impatiently pushed at the restraining bit, but Jed continued to check its forward movement.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The rider adjusted the bit to ensure better control of the horse during the event.

  • Before the race, the trainer checked the bit to make sure it was properly fitted in the horse's mouth.

  • He carefully placed the bit into the horse's mouth as part of the saddling process.

Idioms

∞ 1.0

To a small degree or amount

quite a bit
  • Informal
354 2.8

A fairly large amount

349 2.4

A little similar to something you know

65 3.4

Shows that something is at the same level as something else

62 2.0

All of something, including very small parts

49 3.7

There is not even a small amount

bit by bit
  • Informal
20 2.7

A little at a time

3 7.9

Very eager and unable to wait to start something

Small things you do or give are important because they add up

not a bit of it
  • Informal
1 8.1

Not true at all

1 3.5

Happens slowly, a little at a time

1 6.8

To try too hard to make others agree or do something

bit of a weirdo
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A person who acts a little strange or different

1 9.5

An uncertain situation whose result depends on chance

a bit sketchy
  • Informal
1 8.6

A little suspicious and not easy to trust

Slightly more expensive than it should be for what you get

a bit salty
  • Slang
1 8.8

Slightly rude or sarcastic in what someone says

a bit hokey
  • Informal
1 8.4

A little silly and too sentimental, feeling fake

1 8.5

A little strange in a kind, harmless way

a bit hacky
  • Informal
1 9.1

A slightly unprofessional quick solution made to work for now

9.9

A horse that holds its head back and ignores the rider's hands

a bit loony
  • Offensive
8.9

A little strange and silly

9.9

People call someone a little feminine to show disapproval

9.9

Slightly too focused on numbers and data, making it hard to follow

a bit scorpy
  • Informal
9.9

Being a little angry and easily annoyed with people

9.2

Often changes mood or behavior quickly and without warning

a bit sus
  • Slang
9.9

Slightly suspicious and not completely trustworthy

9.9

A little strange in a harmless, friendly way

A small, disappointing thing that does not help enough

To be a little sad and tired

9.9

Being confused and worried about what to do

A joking idea that deleted digital files are gone forever

A person who is very calm and not easily upset, even in a dangerous situation

Compounds

∞ 1.0

A small amount of something

drill bit
  • Specialized
14 3.7

A metal tool that makes holes in hard materials like rock or wood when attached to a drill

6 4.1

A small acting role with few lines in a film or TV show

4 6.5

A person who has a small role in a film or play

bit rate
  • Specialized
2 4.1

The number of bits sent or processed each second in audio and video files

2 9.5

A short part of a film, book, or joke that is slightly rude

2 4.6

Slightly unclear and hard to see or remember

two-bit crook
  • Offensive
1 7.9

A person who steals or tricks people in small, unimportant ways

bore bit
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A tool for a drill that cuts into rock or other hard material

parity bit
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A small extra binary digit added so the total number of 1s is even or odd to find errors

bit bucket
  • Jargon
1 8.9

An imaginary place where lost or deleted computer data goes

spade bit
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A flat drill bit with a pointed center and two sharp sides for making large holes in wood

bit field
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A place in computer memory that holds several on and off values for settings

snaffle bit
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A metal piece put in a horse's mouth to help a rider control it

check bit
  • Specialized
1 6.9

An extra binary digit added to data to find errors in transmission or storage

brace and bit
  • Archaic
1 8.4

A hand tool that you turn to make holes in wood with a drill bit

chamfer bit
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A small tool part for a drill or router that makes a sloped edge on materials

core bit
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A hollow cutting cylinder used in a drill to remove a sample of rock or concrete

twist bit
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A drill part with spiral grooves that cuts holes in wood or metal

countersink bit
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A drill bit that makes the top of a hole wider so a screw head sits flat with the surface

roller bit
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A drill part with hard turning wheels that cut through rock

blade bit
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A drill part with hard cutting edges that makes holes in wood or metal

pilot bit
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A small drill tool that makes a first hole to guide a larger drill

center bit
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A small tool with a sharp point that guides a drill to make straight holes in wood

9.9

Slightly odd in a way that mixes different styles or ideas

bit cissy
  • Slur
9.9

A little too gentle in style or behavior, often used to tease someone

bit of a thembo
  • Offensive
9.9

An attractive man who is not very smart

cross bit
  • Specialized
8.9

A drill tool with cutting edges in the shape of a cross for drilling hard rock

curb bit
  • Specialized
9.0

A metal piece in a horse's mouth with a chin chain to help control the horse

drilling bit
  • Specialized
4.4

A tool fixed to a machine that cuts rock and earth to make a hole for oil

a bit ouchy
  • Informal
9.9

Hurts a little, for example after a small scrape

bar bit
  • Specialized
9.2

A solid metal bar that sits in a horse's mouth to help the rider control the horse

expansive bit
  • Specialized
9.2

A part for a drill that makes holes of different sizes

expansion bit
  • Specialized
8.6

A drill bit with an adjustable blade for making holes of different sizes

fishtail bit
  • Specialized
9.9

A cutting tool that attaches to a drill to make holes in rock or soil

frog's-bit family
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of small water plants with floating leaves in ponds and marshes

9.5

A small water plant with round floating leaves and white flowers that lives in calm water

rock bit
  • Specialized
7.3

A drill part with hard rollers that cut through rock

How Harsh

gag
9 6.7
Pelham
  • Specialized
9.9
curb
  • Specialized
1 8.6
bit
4 7.6
to snaffle
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

bit singular
bits plural

Etymology

Bit for a horse is the metal piece that sits in the mouth and the name links to bite because it touches the mouth and helps control the animal. So, the horse bit is the small bar used with reins to guide the horse.