Fit作为名词是“发作”，start是“突然一惊”。Fits and starts是什么意思呢？请看对话：

    A: Long time no see. How are things doing?

    B: By fits and starts, my small company is finally able to begin business.

    A: I remember you were planning to sell organic fruits online?

    B: Yeah. I was delivering cargo to some clients in town yesterday. By fits and starts, the old car finally got us to the destination.

    Note: “Fits” and “starts” are kind of tautological here. That means the two words are similar in meaning. Both “fit” and “start” refers to a sudden movement. If something happens by fits and starts, it often stops and then starts again. We also use “in fits and starts.”