by fits and starts
in fits and starts

Federal policy on women's health research has evolved by fits and starts.

By fits and starts, he spoke of his several ladies.

However you take it, her play proceeds by fits and starts.

I've known him, by fits and starts, since I was twelve years old.

A moment later they began to rise, by fits and starts at first, then more smoothly.

He continued moving by fits and starts away from the heart of the contamination.

But there is one among them who joins in their amusement only by fits and starts.

He moved upward slowly, by fits and starts at first, then more smoothly.

The waiting line of eight similar vehicles jerked forward by fits and starts.

By fits and starts, he was hauled to the sleigh.

And yet for all the energy that has gone into it, the book only works by fits and starts.

They reached, by fits and starts, the back door of their favourite restaurant.

But at present he only practiced by fits and starts, when the terror of hell came upon him.

The second Russian revolution is progressing only by fits and starts.

Rebuilding in Across went on by fits and starts.

It came to him by fits and starts, at the behest of the breeze.

If men gain strength by fits and starts, there is no saying how strong he will become."

And I work by fits and starts when there's nobody around to keep me at it.

He let me into his meetings and thoughts by fits and starts.

The File expanded by fits and starts until 1983 .

And those other guys, moving by fits and starts, had even more to resent.

Construction began in 1728, and proceeded by fits and starts over the next 30 years.

Things began to happen by fits and starts.

Historians say this is often the way that Congress works its will on matters of war - incrementally, by fits and starts, over time.

The virus is spreading by fits and starts, as a clean satellite calls on information in a contaminated part.