a little bird told
a little birdie told
To have learned something from a mysterious, unknown, or secret source.
О ситуации когда информация получена из неизвестного источника; "слухом земля полнится"; "сорока на хвосте принесла".
"Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?" Peter asked. "A little bird told me," Jim answered.
A little bird told me that you are getting married soon.
Мне по секрету рассказали, что ты скоро женишься.
I’m sure a little birdie told you about my experience at work.
a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
A person who knows a little about something may think he knows it all and make bad mistakes. A proverb.
John has read a book on driving a car and now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
a little
A small amount (of); some. Usually a little is different in meaning from little, which emphasizes the negative; a little means some; but little means not much.
"We thought that the paper was all gone, but a little was left."
"We thought we still had a bag of flour, but little was left."
"Bob was sick yesterday, but he is a little better today."
"Bob was sick yesterday, and he is little better today."
We have used most of the sugar; but a little is left.
We did not eat all the cake; we saved a little of it for you.
I'm tired; I need a little time to rest.
Where is the paper? I need a little more.
Sometimes a little is used with only, and then it is negative.
We thought we had a whole bag of flour, but only a little was left.
Often used like an adverb.
Usually the teacher just watched the dancing class, but sometimes she danced a little to show them how.
The children wanted to play a little longer.
Sometimes used with very for emphasis.
The sick girl could not eat anything, but she could drink a very little tea.
quite a little
quite a bit
not a little
Rather a large amount; rather much; more than a little.
We are not finished; quite a little is left to do.
Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work.
The phrase quite a bit is used like an adjective only before less, more.
Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming tonight.
Sometimes used like an adverb.
Harry was sick quite a little last winter.