Little by little (6,3,6)
There are a few possibilities for this:
slowly but surely
'little by little' is the definition.
(synonyms)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for piecemeal that I've seen before include "by degrees" , "taken bit by bit" , "Bit by bit; unsystematic" , "Claim epee in gradual unsystematic way" , "Gradually, little by little" .)
'little by little' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for gradually that I've seen before include "slow on the uptake?" , "slowly but surely" , "Developing slowly and by degrees" , "A little at a time - slowly" , "Bit by bit" .)