a bit of a/an

idiom

used to make a statement or description less forceful or definite
I had a bit of a shock when I saw him.
He's a bit of a rascal.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“A bit of a/an.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20bit%20of%20a%2Fan. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!