a little bit at a time; the research structure has developed piecemeal

[ Syn: little by little , little by little , bit by bit , bit by bit , in stages , in stages , little by little , little by little , bit by bit , bit by bit , in stages , in stages , little by little , little by little , bit by bit , bit by bit , in stages , in stages , little by little , little by little , bit by bit , bit by bit , in stages , in stages ]

one thing at a time

[ Syn: bit-by-bit , in small stages , step-by-step , stepwise ]