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Glite Dictionary
to drip-feed

to drip-feed

6.1
To give information or supplies slowly in small amounts over time
  • phrasal verb
  • /drɪp-fiːd/
translation icon : proveer gradualmente
  • The teacher decided to drip-feed the students information about the project to avoid overwhelming them.

Examples

  • Thus, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have been drip-feeding weapons and money to Syria's rebels with the covert okay of the US state, while the White House issues grandiose plaudits for Syria's "democratic opposition."

    Blog text (21)

  • But with DMTX, with the drip feeding of DMT into the bloodstream, these volunteers actually could be kept in the peak state for hours.

  • To help the plants thrive, she chose to drip-feed them water slowly each day.

  • The organization plans to drip-feed updates about the new initiative over several weeks.

Synonyms

to feed
vsto drip-feed
726 1.8

To give information and help to a system, idea or feeling

delivers resources slowly and in small amounts over time
to drip feed
vsto drip-feed
1 4.9

To give news or information slowly in small amounts to influence what people think

provides items gradually without aiming to persuade or create interest

Antonyms

to overwhelm
88 3.9

Give someone too much work or problems so they cannot cope

How Gradual

to ration
34 5.1
to drip-feed
6.1
to stagger
12 4.2
to give
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

drip-feed infinitive
drip-fed past
drip-fed past participle
drip-feeding present participle
drip-feeds third person singular

Morphology

drip-feed = drip + feed (transparent) = drip + feed

The meaning 'to supply gradually in small amounts' is a direct, compositional extension of 'drip' (small drops) + 'feed' (supply).

Etymology

The word drip-feed comes from two simple words: drip meaning 'a small drop' and feed meaning 'to give'. Think of giving things drop by drop, like a slow drip from a tap, so drip-feed means to give information or supplies slowly over time.