Crossword Genius

Bit some food, bit by bit (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

piecemeal

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'bit by bit' is the definition.
('piecemeal' can be a synonym of 'bit by bit')

'bit some food' is the wordplay.
'bit some' becomes 'piece' ('piece' can be a synonym of 'bit'. I am not sure about the 'some' bit.**).
'food' becomes 'meal' (meal is a kind of food).
'piece'+'meal'='PIECEMEAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for piecemeal that I've seen before include "Unsystematically" , "Bit by bit; unsystematic" , "Gradually, little by little" , "taken bit by bit" , "by degrees" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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