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to bit

to bit

153 9.0
To put a metal bar into a horse's mouth to control it
  • verb
  • /bɪt/
translation icon : poner el bocado

Examples

  • Rangers were contacted because the civet had bitten a child on the right leg in an unprovoked attack.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The trainer gently placed the bit in the horse's mouth to help control its movements.

  • Before riding, she adjusted the bit to make sure it was comfortable for the horse.

  • The rider learned how to properly use the bit to guide the horse during training.

Idioms

1.0

To a small degree or amount

quite a bit
  • Informal
235 2.8

A fairly large amount

71 3.4

Shows that something is at the same level as something else

51 3.7

There is not even a small amount

45 2.0

All of something, including very small parts

39 2.4

A little similar to something you know

bit by bit
  • Informal
12 2.7

A little at a time

3 7.9

Very eager and unable to wait to start something

a bit sketchy
  • Informal
1 8.6

A little suspicious and not easy to trust

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

1 6.8

To try too hard to make others agree or do something

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

9.9

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

Happens slowly, a little at a time

8.5

A little strange in a kind, harmless way

a bit hacky
  • Informal
9.1

A slightly unprofessional quick solution made to work for now

a bit hokey
  • Informal
8.4

A little silly and too sentimental, feeling fake

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

Slightly more expensive than it should be for what you get

a bit scorpy
  • Informal
9.9

Being a little angry and easily annoyed with people

a bit salty
  • Slang
8.8

Slightly rude or sarcastic in what someone says

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

not a bit of it
  • Informal
8.1

Not true at all

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

Phrasal Verbs

To seem a little boring and not exciting

9.9

To be a little sick in the stomach

Find every fact you can from a person or source by asking and checking

Compounds

1.0

A small amount of something

drill bit
  • Specialized
11 3.7

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

5 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
1 4.1

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

1 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

bit bucket
  • Jargon
8.9

An imaginary place where lost or deleted computer data goes

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 field
  • Specialized
6.2

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

bit of a thembo
  • Offensive
9.9

An attractive man who is not very smart

blade bit
  • Specialized
7.5

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

bore bit
  • Specialized
8.1

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

brace and bit
  • Archaic
8.4

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

center bit
  • Specialized
7.5

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

chamfer bit
  • Specialized
9.3

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

check bit
  • Specialized
6.9

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

countersink bit
  • Specialized
8.6

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

core bit
  • Specialized
7.8

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

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

9.5

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

rock bit
  • Specialized
7.3

A drill part with hard rollers that cut through rock

roller bit
  • Specialized
8.4

A drill part with hard turning wheels that cut through rock

parity bit
  • Specialized
6.2

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

pilot bit
  • Specialized
7.0

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

snaffle bit
  • Specialized
8.3

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

spade bit
  • Specialized
7.3

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

twist bit
  • Specialized
5.5

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

How Controlling

to bit
153 9.0
bridle
7 5.1
halter
  • Specialized
5 4.1
lead
  • UK
26 4.7

Surface Forms

bit infinitive
bit past
biting present participle
bites third person singular
bitten past participle

Etymology

Bit as a verb comes from the noun bit, the metal mouthpiece, so it simply means to put that piece into a horse's mouth to prepare or control it. So, to bit a horse is to fit it with the mouthpiece.