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.
Examples of a bit of a/an in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a retelling of a legend on the folklore database, the creatures were a bit of a mixed bag.
—
James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Its provenance is a bit of a mystery, and the sparkler has been rarely seen since.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
What if, though, Elphaba was the one who emanated authentic goodness and Glinda was a bit of a tool, far more concerned about appearance and popularity (one of the best numbers in the musical)?
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
His character, Constantine, is the illegitimate son of the emperor who is a bit of a party boy.
—Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a bit of a/an 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Its provenance is a bit of a mystery, and the sparkler has been rarely seen since.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
What if, though, Elphaba was the one who emanated authentic goodness and Glinda was a bit of a tool, far more concerned about appearance and popularity (one of the best numbers in the musical)?
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
His character, Constantine, is the illegitimate son of the emperor who is a bit of a party boy.
—Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a bit of a/an
Dictionary Entries Near a bit of a/an
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 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share