a little from column A, a little from column B
A combination of two factors or reasons.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The phrase originates from the structure of American Chinese restaurant menus during the mid-twentieth century. These menus typically organised combination entrees into a table with sections labelled Column A and Column B.
The customer was instructed to select one item from each section, commonly phrased as Choose one from Column A and one from Column B. The idiom retains this binary structure to describe a situation involving two distinct options or causes.
- 01
a little bird told me
I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose.
- 02
a little bit of bread and no cheese
Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
- 03
a little of something goes a long way
Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a great effect.
- 04
in one's own little way
In an individual manner that creates an effect from a small action.
- 05
little emperor
In contemporary China, a child with no siblings who is regarded as overly protected and spoiled. (Seen as belonging to a generation which is a product of China's "one-child" policy.)
- 06
little girl
One's daughter.
- 07
little hand
Synonym of hour hand (on a clock face).
- 08
little head
The glans of the penis.
Last updated August 10, 2026