a poco a poco

a poco a poco

1. (idiomatic) little by little (a small amount at a time)

a poco a poco

1. little by little, by degrees
   • 1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno [The Divine Comedy: Hell] (paperback), 12th edition, Le Monnier, published 1994, Canto I, lines 53–58, page 10:

     E qual è quei che volontieri acquista, ¶ e giugne ’l tempo che perder lo face, ¶ che ’n tutti suoi pensier piange e s’attrista; ¶ tal mi fece la bestia sanza pace, ¶ che, venendomi ’ncontro, a poco a poco ¶ mi ripigneva là dove ’l sol tace.

     And as he is who willingly acquires, and the time comes that causes him to lose, who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent, e'en such made me that beast withouten peace, which, coming on against me by degrees, thrust me back thither where the sun is silent.