Get to the 'Nitty-Gritty' with 'Itsy-Bitsy' Rhyming Phrases
The 1960s was an important time for music. You might think of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones or Aretha Franklin.
A name less of us remember is Brian Hyland. But he sold millions of records with a song called: "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini."
What a title! So what does it mean?
Well, "itsy-bitsy" and "teenie-weenie" — often spelled "teeny-weeny" — both mean "really small."
They're just two examples of English terms or phrases that are made from a pair of rhyming words.
They probably both come from words used by babies when they can't yet speak properly.
"Itsy-bitsy" — and the similar "itty-bitty" — may come from "a little bit," and "teeny" from "tiny," which means "very small."
These are fun, cute phrases — not ones we would use in business.
But you might ask for a "teeny-weeny" piece of cake if you're not too hungry, or describe a baby's hands as "itsy-bitsy" — often when speaking directly to the child.
But here's one you might use in business. When you want to discuss the most important facts or information, you can say, "Let's get down to the nitty-gritty."
And "chit-chat," although it doesn't rhyme, is like the word "chat," but used when the things being spoken about aren't very important.
Another fun example is "higgledy-piggledy." This English phrase is hundreds of years old, and some think it was first used by farmers talking about how difficult it was to herd pigs!
Now, we use it to describe something that's mixed up or untidy — a bit like the English language!
