1. 缓慢地：by inch of candle 通过拍卖 | by inches 缓慢地 | by leap and bounds 飞跃地

2. 一点一点地：a grain of truth一点儿可信的东西;一丝真理 | by inches一点一点地 | far from一点儿也不;根本不是

3. 缓慢地,一点一点地：within an inch of差点儿 | by inches缓慢地,一点一点地 | inch by inch逐渐地

4. 差距很小;险些儿';刚刚;慢慢地,一点一点地;渐渐地：These dresses were made by hand.这些衣服是手工做的. | by inches差距很小;险些儿';刚刚;慢慢地,一点一点地;渐渐地: | The car missed the little girl by inches. 那辆汽车除撞上那个小女孩.

1. by a short distance

    e.g. they moved it by inches

    Synonym: little by littleby small degrees