fits and starts

Noun

idiomatic plural plural-only

(idiomatic) Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.

Japanese Meaning

断続的で、中断が入りながら続く一時的な活動状態。 / 一定のリズムや継続性がなく、時折途切れたり強度が変化したりする活動。 / その活動が一貫して継続せず、断続的に現れる状態。

Her writing progress advanced in fits and starts, leaving her manuscript unfinished for months at a time.

彼女の執筆の進みは断続的な中断を伴って進み、原稿は何か月も未完成のままだった。

Sense（1）

(idiomatic) Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.

Progress in this project has come in fits and starts.