Cool MateLittle bit of everything vs Variety
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Little bit of everything
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Variety
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Variety
| Little bit of everything | Variety | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈlɪtəl bɪt əv ˌɛvriθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈlɪtəl bɪt əv ˌɛvriθɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 //vəˈraɪəti//🇺🇸 //vəˈraɪəti// |
| Meaning | A small amount of several different things. | Different types or kinds of something. |
| Example | At the party, I had a little bit of everything from the buffet. | There is a great variety of fruits in the market. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | a little bit of everything, mix a little bit of everything, have a little bit of everything, find a little bit of everything, enjoy a little bit of everything | variety of options, wide variety, great variety, variety show |
| Antonyms | - | uniformity, similarity |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'a' before 'little bit', Using 'little bits of everything' instead of 'little bit of everything', Confusing with 'a bit of everything', which is slightly more casual | Confused with 'various', which is an adjective., Using 'variety' with uncountable nouns instead of countable., Incorrect pluralization, thinking 'varieties' is less common. |
| Usage notes | Use in informal contexts when describing a variety of things, but avoid in formal writing. | Use 'variety' when talking about different types in a group. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. |
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Frequently asked questions: Little bit of everything vs Variety
What's the difference between Little bit of everything and Variety?
Little bit of everything: A small amount of several different things. Variety: Different types or kinds of something.
Which is more common: Little bit of everything and Variety?
Variety is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Little bit of everything: At the party, I had a little bit of everything from the buffet. Variety: There is a great variety of fruits in the market.
Can I use Little bit of everything and Variety interchangeably?
Not always. Little bit of everything and Variety are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.