My wife insisted I post this: How many of something do you define as a “few”? Example: I’m going to get a “few” Fig Newtons. I usually grab 3-5. I almost always take an odd number, but my wife insists it should be an even number.
Whaddya think?
…and, no, I’m not henpecked. Am I, dear?
It all depends.
A few bottles of beer on a lazy afternoon, or a few bone-crushing punches to the nose?
Uke
i’ve never thought of a ‘few’ as an even number of whatevers. when i was little, a couple was two, and three was a few.
i’m not saying that three IS a few, just that it’s at least a few… 
“If anybody wants a sheep, that is proof that he exists.”
I think that2 is a couple and anything that is 3 or more is a few…until you get to alot, but that poses the question ‘how many is alot?’ 
Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
I think depending on what it is, anywhere from 3-7 or so would be a “few”
–
“it’s all real”
“I KNEW IT!!!”
O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
Seven or more is clearly equal to several. A couple is two, and a few is anywhere in between.
If we’re talking specifically cookies - or fruit and cake - here, I’d say a few is 3 to 4 and 5 is a handful.
There is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not a man.
Ah, metric vs imperial vs real life measurements. “Few” is usefully subjective. If we’re talking bar rounds, Girl Scout cookies or past sexual escapades, “few” equals 2 to 5, depending on the adjudicating panel.
“Few” in terms of work perks, benefits, etc. translates to 0 to .5.
See also: titch, smidgen, pinch, dash, etc.
Bottom line: “few” is as many as you wanna make it.
Veb
Let me lay it out for you.
2: couple
3: few
4: some
5 or more: many
7: several
Eight. Definitely eight.
And with no less authority than St. Peter himself.
This is from memory but it’s something like: “When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, wherein few, that is eight, were saved by water.” The reference is 1 Peter 3:20, I think. Somewhere near there anyway.
Q.E.D.
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
3 or more, but less than 12.
“Thou shalt count to three, and three shalt be the number of thy counting;
five is right out!”
VB
Changing my Sigline again 'cause Vebs’tummy is all better now!
Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination.
No, no, no!
<------- That number to the left is a ‘few.’
At least that’s what I tell people, “I’ve posted a few times.”
Here’s mud in yer eye!
Yer pal, UncleBeer.