# How do YOU define a "few"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134 "2000-02-27T20:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/1 "2000-02-27T20:42:00Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/2 "2000-02-27T20:49:00Z")
It all depends. A few bottles of beer on a lazy afternoon, or a few bone-crushing punches to the nose? * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![mega\_the\_roo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mega\_the\_roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mega_the_roo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/3 "2000-02-27T20:57:00Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Angkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Angkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angkins)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/4 "2000-02-27T21:04:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/5 "2000-02-27T21:41:00Z")
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](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/6 "2000-02-28T00:12:00Z")
Seven or more is clearly equal to **several**. A couple is two, and a few is anywhere in between. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/7 "2000-02-28T00:23:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/8 "2000-02-28T00:34:00Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/9 "2000-02-28T01:32:00Z")
Let me lay it out for you. 2: couple 3: few 4: some 5 or more: many 7: several ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/10 "2000-02-28T20:54:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/11 "2000-02-28T21:58:00Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/12 "2000-02-28T22:06:00Z")
## 0: none 1: one 2: couple 3-6: few 7-12: several 13+: manny Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-a-few/14134/13 "2000-02-29T00:14:00Z")
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.