Definition

Noun: 1. A small, choice, or particularly tasty piece of food. This is the primary meaning, referring to a small morsel of something delicious or appealing to eat. 2. A small and interesting or juicy piece of information, gossip, or news. This is a figurative extension, where the "tastiness" of the food is metaphorically applied to information that is especially interesting or appealing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Food):
  • She offered me a tidbit of cheese from the platter.
  • The recipe suggests garnishing the dish with a tidbit of fresh herb.
• Noun (Information):
  • The reporter shared a juicy tidbit about the celebrity's private life.
  • He always has an interesting historical tidbit to add to the conversation.

Advanced Usage

• "to feed/dole out tidbits": To give small pieces of information gradually or sparingly.
  • The company spokesperson doled out tidbits about the new product but refused to give full details.
• "a tidbit of gossip": A specific, small piece of gossip.
  • She couldn't resist sharing a tidbit of office gossip.

Variants and Related Words

• Titbit: This is the standard spelling in British English. Both "tidbit" and "titbit" have the same meanings. "Tidbit" is more common in American English.
• Morsel (n): A very small piece of food; a synonym often used interchangeably with "tidbit."
• Snippet (n): A small piece or brief extract, typically used for information or text, not food.

Synonyms

• Morsel: A small piece or amount of food.
• Nibble: A small bite of food.
• Scrap: A very small piece or amount of something, often food.
• Snippet: A small piece of information or news.

Related Phrases

• A tidbit for thought: A playful variation of "food for thought," meaning a small idea to consider.
  • His closing remark offered a tidbit for thought about the future of the industry.

Noun

1. a small tasty bit of food