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61 few
❢ When few is used as a quantifier to indicate the smallness or insufficiency of a given number or quantity ( few houses, few shops, few people) it is translated by peu de: peu de maisons, peu de magasins, peu de gens. Equally the few is translated by le peu de: the few people who knew her le peu de gens qui la connaissaient. For examples and particular usages see A 1 in the entry.When few is used as a quantifier in certain expressions to mean several, translations vary according to the expression: see A 2 in the entry. When a few is used as a quantifier ( a few books), it can often be translated by quelques: quelques livres ; however, for expressions such as quite a few books, a good few books, see B in the entry. For translations of few used as a pronoun ( few of us succeeded, I only need a few) see B, C in the entry. For translations of the few used as a noun ( the few who voted for him) see D in the entry.A quantif1 ( not many) peu de ; few visitors/letters peu de visiteurs/lettres ; few people came to the meeting peu de gens sont venus à la réunion ; very few houses/families très peu de maisons/familles ; there are very few opportunities for graduates il y a très peu de débouchés pour les diplômés ; one of my few pleasures un de mes rares plaisirs ; on the few occasions that she has visited this country les rares fois où elle a visité ce pays ; their needs are few ils ont peu de besoins ; their demands are few ils sont peu exigeants, ils revendiquent peu de chose ; to be few in number être peu nombreux ; there are too few women in this profession il y a trop peu de femmes dans ce métier ; with few exceptions à quelques exceptions près ; a man of few words gen un homme peu loquace ; ( approvingly) un homme qui ne se perd pas en paroles inutiles ;2 (some, several) every few days tous les deux ou trois jours ; over the next few days/weeks ( in past) dans les jours/semaines qui ont suivi ; ( in future) dans les jours/semaines à venir ; these past few days ces derniers jours ; the first few weeks les premières semaines ; the few books she possessed les quelques livres qu'elle possédait.B a few quantif quelques ; a few people/houses quelques personnes/maisons ; I would like a few more j'en voudrais quelques-uns (or quelques-unes) de plus ; quite a few people/houses pas mal ○ de gens/maisons, un bon nombre de gens/maisons ; we've lived here for a good few years nous vivons ici depuis un bon nombre d'années ; a few weeks earlier quelques semaines plus tôt ; in a few minutes dans quelques minutes ; in a few more months dans quelques mois ; a few more times quelques fois de plus.C pron1 ( not many) peu ; few of us succeeded peu d'entre nous ont réussi ; few of them could swim ils n'étaient pas nombreux à savoir nager ; few of them survived peu d'entre eux ont survécu, il y a eu peu de survivants ; there are so few of them that ( objects) il y en a tellement peu que ; ( people) ils sont tellement peu nombreux que ; there are four too few il en manque quatre ; as few as four people turned up quatre personnes seulement sont venues ; few can deny that il y a peu de gens qui nieraient que ;2 ( some) a few of the soldiers/countries quelques-uns or certains des soldats/pays ; I only need a few il ne m'en faut que quelques-uns/quelques-unes ; a few of us un certain nombre d'entre nous ; there were only a few of them ( objects) il n'y en avait que quelques-uns/quelques-unes ; ( people) ils étaient peu nombreux ; quite a few of the tourists come from Germany un bon nombre des touristes viennent d'Allemagne ; a good few of the houses were damaged un bon nombre des maisons ont été endommagées ; there are only a very few left ( objects) il n'en reste que très peu ; ( people) il ne reste que quelques personnes ; a few wanted to go on strike quelques-uns voulaient faire la grève.D n the few who voted for him les rares personnes qui ont voté pour lui ; great wealth in the hands of the few une grande richesse entre les mains d'une minorité ; music that appeals only to the few une musique qui ne s'adresse qu'à l'élite.to be few and far between être rarissimes ; such people/opportunities are few and far between de telles personnes/occasions sont rarissimes ; villages in this area are few and far between il y a très peu de villages dans cette région ; to have had a few (too many) ○ avoir bu quelques verres de trop, être bien parti ○. -
62 not exchange more than a few words
(not exchange more than a few (или half a dozen) words (with smb.))обменяться (с кем-л.) всего двумя-тремя словами, и парой слов не обмолвиться (с кем-л.); почти совсем не знать кого-л.I'm ashamed to say that I haven't exchenged more than half a dozen words with the chap who lives next door since last Christmas. (ODCIE) — Стыдно признаться, но с прошлого Рождества мое знакомство с соседом не продвинулось ни на йоту.
Large English-Russian phrasebook > not exchange more than a few words
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63 few
fju:adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) pocos- a few- few and far between
few adj pron pocoa few unos cuantos / algunoscan I ask you a few questions? ¿puedo hacerte algunas preguntas?tr[fjʊː]1 (not many) poco,-a, pocos,-as2 (some) uno,-as cuantos,-as, algunos,-as1 (not many) pocos,-as2 (some) unos,-as cuantos,-as, algunos,-as\SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALLa good few un buen númeroas few as solamentefew and far between poquísimos,-as, contadísimos,-as, muy escasos,-asno fewer than no menos dequite a few un buen número, bastantesto have had a few too many haber tomado una copa de másthe chosen few los elegidos nombre masculino pluralfew ['fju:] adj: pocoswith few exceptions: con pocas excepcionesa few times: varias vecesfew pron1) : pocosfew (of them) were ready: pocos estaban listos2)a few : algunos, unos cuantos3)few and far between : contadosadj.• algunos adj.• poco, -a adj.• pocos adj.• unos adj.adv.• pocos adv.pron.• algunos pron.• pocos pron.• unos pron.
I fjuːadjective -er, -esta) ( not many) pocos, -casfew people know about this — lo sabe poca gente, lo saben pocos
the o what few chances I had — las pocas posibilidades que tenía
b)a few people complained — algunos se quejaron/bastante gente se quejó
II
pronoun -er, -esta) ( not many) pocos, -casas few as 30% pass first time — tan sólo un 30% aprueba a la primera
to be few and far between: good beaches are few and far between — las playas buenas son contadísimas
b)a good few o quite a few already know — ya lo saben bastantes
he's had a few (too many) — (colloq) se ha tomado unas cuantas
[fjuː]ADJ PRON (compar fewer) (superl fewest)1) (=not many) pocos(-as)there are very few of us, we are very few — somos muy pocos
the few who... — los pocos que...
she is one of the few (people) who... — ella es una de los pocos que...
•
as few as three of them — nada más que tres•
every few weeks — cada dos o tres semanas•
they are few and far between — son contados•
the lucky few — unos pocos or unos cuantos afortunados•
in or over the next few days — en or durante los próximos días, en estos días (LAm)•
in or over the past few days — en or durante los últimos días•
the last or remaining few minutes — el poco tiempo que queda/quedaba•
too few — demasiado pocos2) (=some, several)a good few, quite a few — bastantes
a good few or quite a few (people) came — vinieron bastantes, vino bastante gente
•
a few of them — algunos de ellos* * *
I [fjuː]adjective -er, -esta) ( not many) pocos, -casfew people know about this — lo sabe poca gente, lo saben pocos
the o what few chances I had — las pocas posibilidades que tenía
b)a few people complained — algunos se quejaron/bastante gente se quejó
II
pronoun -er, -esta) ( not many) pocos, -casas few as 30% pass first time — tan sólo un 30% aprueba a la primera
to be few and far between: good beaches are few and far between — las playas buenas son contadísimas
b)a good few o quite a few already know — ya lo saben bastantes
he's had a few (too many) — (colloq) se ha tomado unas cuantas
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64 few
[fjuː] 1.(compar. fewer; superl. fewest) quantisostantivo femminile1) (not many) pochifew visitors, letters — pochi visitatori, poche lettere
on the few occasions that... — le rare volte che...
2) (some, several)every few days — a intervalli di pochi giorni, ogni due o tre giorni
over the next few days — (in past) nei giorni successivi; (in future) nei giorni a venire
3) a few qualche, alcunia few people, houses — alcune persone, case
quite a few people — un bel po' di o parecchie persone
2.a few weeks earlier — qualche settimana fa o prima
1) (not many) pochi m.pl. (-e)2) (some)3.a few of the soldiers, countries — alcuni dei soldati, dei paesi
the few who — i pochi o le poche persone che
••••to have had a few (too many) — colloq. avere bevuto qualche bicchiere di troppo
Note:When few is used as a quantifier to indicate the smallness or insufficiency of a given number or quantity ( few horses, few shops, few people), it is translated by pochi + masculine nouns and poche + feminine nouns: pochi cavalli, pochi negozi, poche persone. Equally the few is translated by i pochi / le poche: the few people who knew her = le poche persone che la conoscevano. For examples and particular usages, see I.1 in the entry below. - When few is used as a quantifier in certain expressions to mean several, translations vary according to the expression: see I.2 in the entry below. - When a few is used as a quantifier ( a few books), it can often be translated by qualche, which is invariable and is always followed by the singular: qualche libro; however, for expressions such as quite a few books, a good few books, see I.3 in the entry below. - For translations of few used as a pronoun ( few of us succeeded, I only need a few), see II in the entry below. - For translations of the few used as a noun ( the few who voted for him), see III in the entry below* * *[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) poco- a few- few and far between* * *[fjuː] 1.(compar. fewer; superl. fewest) quantisostantivo femminile1) (not many) pochifew visitors, letters — pochi visitatori, poche lettere
on the few occasions that... — le rare volte che...
2) (some, several)every few days — a intervalli di pochi giorni, ogni due o tre giorni
over the next few days — (in past) nei giorni successivi; (in future) nei giorni a venire
3) a few qualche, alcunia few people, houses — alcune persone, case
quite a few people — un bel po' di o parecchie persone
2.a few weeks earlier — qualche settimana fa o prima
1) (not many) pochi m.pl. (-e)2) (some)3.a few of the soldiers, countries — alcuni dei soldati, dei paesi
the few who — i pochi o le poche persone che
••••to have had a few (too many) — colloq. avere bevuto qualche bicchiere di troppo
Note:When few is used as a quantifier to indicate the smallness or insufficiency of a given number or quantity ( few horses, few shops, few people), it is translated by pochi + masculine nouns and poche + feminine nouns: pochi cavalli, pochi negozi, poche persone. Equally the few is translated by i pochi / le poche: the few people who knew her = le poche persone che la conoscevano. For examples and particular usages, see I.1 in the entry below. - When few is used as a quantifier in certain expressions to mean several, translations vary according to the expression: see I.2 in the entry below. - When a few is used as a quantifier ( a few books), it can often be translated by qualche, which is invariable and is always followed by the singular: qualche libro; however, for expressions such as quite a few books, a good few books, see I.3 in the entry below. - For translations of few used as a pronoun ( few of us succeeded, I only need a few), see II in the entry below. - For translations of the few used as a noun ( the few who voted for him), see III in the entry below -
65 few
I [fjuː] nнезначительное число, немногие, немногоI know only a few of them. — Я знаю только некоторых из них.
- fortunate fewMany wish but few will. — ◊ Многие хотят, но мало кто может
- few
- few of them know him
- there are very few of us II [fjuː]1) (c существительными во множественном числе) мало, немного, мало что, мало кто- few houses2) небольшое количество, немного, несколько- few days ago
- in a few days
- he who begins many things finishes but few•USAGE:(1.) Few и a few сочетаются только с исчисляемыми существительными во множественном числе: there were a few people waiting for him его ждали несколько человек; few people voted for the candidate за этого кандидата голосовало мало людей/мало кто голосовал за этого кандидата. При использовании неисчисляемых существительных значение небольшого, недостаточного количества передается прилагательным little и a little: to have very little money иметь очень мало денег, ср. to have a little money иметь немного денег. (2.) В английской сравнительной конструкции с количественным определением исчисляемых существительных, которая соответствует русской конструкции на три книги (пять книг и т. д.) меньше, fewer не употребляется. Вместо него употребляется less, которое стоит после определяемого существительного: he returned three books less он вернул на три книги меньше (но he returned fewer books to the library он вернул в библиотеку меньшн книг, чем взял). (3.) В разговорном языке вместо few 1. предпочтительнее сочетание not (as) many, only a few: only a few people can do it только немногие люди могут это сделать; there are not many mistakes in his dictation в его диктанте немного ошибок. (4.) See less, adj; USAGE (2.). -
66 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) få; ikke ret mange- a few- few and far between* * *[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) få; ikke ret mange- a few- few and far between -
67 few
a (с сущ. во мн. числе) 1. мало, немного, мало что/кто; 2. несколько, немного, небольшое количество (1). Few и a few сочетаются только с исчисляемыми существительными во множественном числе:There were a few people waiting for him — Его ждали несколько человек.
Few people voted for the candidate — За этого кандидата голосовало мало людей/Мало кто голосовал за этого кандидата.
При использовании неисчисляемых существительных значение небольшого, недостаточного количества передается прилагательным little и a little:to have very little money — иметь очень мало денег.
Ср. to have a little money — иметь немного денег.
(2). В сравнительной конструкции с количественным определением исчисляемых существительных, которая соответствует русской конструкции на три (пять и т. д.) книг (человек и т. д.) меньше, fewer не употребляется. Вместо него употребляется less, которое стоит после определяемого существительного:He returned three books less — Он вернул на три книги меньше (но He returned fewer books to the library — Он вернул в библиотеку меньше книг, чем взял).
(3). В разговорном языке вместо few 1. предпочтительнее сочетание not (as) many, only a few:Only a few people can do it — Только немногие люди могут это сделать.
There are not many mistakes in his dictation — В его диктанте не много ошибок.
(4). See less, a (2). -
68 few ***** adj
[fjuː]1) (not many) pochi (-e)she is one of the few (people) who... — è una delle poche persone che...
the few who... — i pochi che...
in or over the past few days — in questi ultimi giorni, negli ultimi giorni
in or over the next few days — nei prossimi giorni
every few days/months — ogni due o tre giorni/mesi
with few exceptions — con or salvo poche eccezioni
there are very few of us or we are very few — siamo pochi
the last or remaining few minutes — i pochi minuti che rimangono
2)(some, several)
a few — alcuni (-e), qualchea few books — alcuni libri, qualche libro
a good few or quite a few — parecchi
a good few or quite a few books — parecchi libri, un bel po' di libri
a good few or quite a few (people) came — è venuta un bel po' di gente
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69 few
[fjuː] 1. adjniewiele (+gen), mało (+gen); ( of groups of people including at least one male) niewielu (+gen)2. pronniewiele; ( of groups of people including at least one male) niewielu3. adja few —
kilka (+gen), parę (+gen); ( of groups of people including at least one male) kilku (+gen), paru (+gen); (of children, groups of people of both sexes) kilkoro (+gen)4. pronkilka, parę; ( of groups of people including at least one male) kilku, parua good few, quite a few — (całkiem) sporo
as few as — zaledwie, tylko
no fewer than — nie mniej niż, aż
in the next/past few days — w ciągu kilku najbliższych/ostatnich dni
every few days/months — co kilka dni/miesięcy
* * *[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) mało- a few- few and far between -
70 few
[fju:] prn, a քիչ, սակավ. few people քիչ մարդ. few opportunities սակավ հնարավորություն ներ. a few, some few մի քանի. a good/not a/ quite a few բավականին շատ/մեծ թիվ. every few days յուրաքանչյուր երկու-երեք օրը. only a few միայն մի քանիսը. few and far between շատ հազվադեպ -
71 not
nɔt нареч.
1) не, нет, ни ( в соединении с вспомогательными и модальными глаголами n't it is hot, is it not (или isn't it) ? ≈ жарко, не правда ли? it is not hot, is it? ≈ не жарко, правда?
2) усил. то, уж I won't buy it, not I ≈ я-то это не куплю. ∙ not a bit( of it) ≈ нисколько not but, not but that, not but what ≈ хотя;
не то чтобы not half ≈ очень, сильно;
еще как! not for the world ≈ ни за что на свете not in the least ≈ нисколько not on your life ≈ ни в коем случае not to speak of ≈ не говоря уже о - not at all не, ни (в соединении с вспомогательными и модальными глагодами в разговорной речи n't) - * infrequently довольно часто - * unconnected with имеющий некоторую связь с - * without reason не без причины, довольно обоснованно - * inconsiderable довольно значительный - I do * know, (устаревшее) I know * я не знаю - don't be afraid, don't fear, (устаревшее) fear * не бойтесь - * knowing не зная - * to wait не ждать - I started early so as * to miss the train я выехал пораньше, чтобы не опоздать на поезд - * a world! ни слова! - it is cold, it is *? холодно, не правда ли? - everybody has * had your opportunities не у всех были ваши возможности преим. в ответах: нет - is he ill? - I hope, * он болен? - Надеюсь, что нет - probably * вероятно, нет - * so это не так;
нисколько;
отнюдь нет - if it is clear, we eill go out;
if *, если погода будет хорошая, мы выйдем, если плохая, то нет в эмоц.-усил. значении: - he won't pay you, * he уж он-то вам не заплатит, не такой он человек! - I won't go there, * I! я-то уж не пойду туда, от меня этого не ждите - are you going to tell him? - Not I! вы ему скажете? - Только не я! в сочетаниях: - * a bit( of it) нисколько, вовсе нет - * at all нисколько, ничуть;
отнюдь нет;
вовсе не;
не стоит( благодарности) - are you ill? - Not at all вы больны? - Вовсе нет - * but, * but that, * but what хотя;
не то, чтобы;
все же;
тем не менее - one cannot but wonder нельзя не задуматься - we cannot but hope he is right нам остается только надеяться, что он прав - *... but that, *... because не потому, что... a - the Unknown Soldier did * die for the glory of one country, but that all nations may live in peace Неизвестный солдат погиб не во славу одной страны, но для того, чтобы все народы могли жить в мире - * half (эмоционально-усилительно) совсем не;
очень сильно. ужасно - * half bad недурно;
- was he annoyed? - Not half! он обозлился? - Еще как! - * in the least нисколько, ничуть - he was * in the least embarrassed он нисколько не смутился - * once ни разу;
не раз, неоднократно - he did * glance at me, no, * once он так не разу и не взглянул на меня! - * once nor twice не раз и не два, часто - * that не то, чтобы;
насколько - if he said so - * that I heard him say so - he lied если он так сказал - правда, я этого не слышал - то он солгал - I never heard of him, * that that proves anything я никогда не слышал о нем, конечно, это ничего не доказывает - * that I fear him but... я не то, чтобы его боюсь, но... - * that I know of насколько мне известно, нет - *... till только после, к - he will * come till after dinner он придет только после обеда - the territory was * liberated until 1943 территория была освобождена только в 1943 году - * too не слишком, довольно - * too well довольно скверно, неважно - * too loud, please! пожалуйста, потише! - * to say чтобы не сказать - it is warm, * to say hot тепло, чтобы не сказать жарко - this is * to say that... этим я не хочу сказать, что...;
это не значит, что... - * to speak of не говоря уже о... - it will need much time, * to speak of the expense это потребует много времени, не говоря уже о расходах - that is * to be thought of об этом нечего и думать, это исключено - as likely as * вполне вероятно - as soon as * столь же вероятно;
скорее да, чем нет > * for the world ни в коем случае;
ни за что на свете > * on your life ни в коем случае, вовсе нет;
и ни думайте > * all there не все дома, винтика не хватает not для усиления: he won't pay you, not he! он-то вам не заплатит, это уж поверьте!;
I won't go there, not I я-то уж не пойду туда I know ~ уст. (= I do not know) я не знаю;
it is cold, is it not (или isn't it) ? холодно, не правда ли?;
it is not cold, is it? не холодно, правда? not для усиления: he won't pay you, not he! он-то вам не заплатит, это уж поверьте!;
I won't go there, not I я-то уж не пойду туда I know ~ уст. (= I do not know) я не знаю;
it is cold, is it not (или isn't it) ? холодно, не правда ли?;
it is not cold, is it? не холодно, правда? I know ~ уст. (= I do not know) я не знаю;
it is cold, is it not (или isn't it) ? холодно, не правда ли?;
it is not cold, is it? не холодно, правда? I know ~ уст. (= I do not know) я не знаю;
it is cold, is it not (или isn't it) ? холодно, не правда ли?;
it is not cold, is it? не холодно, правда? I know ~ уст. (= I do not know) я не знаю;
it is cold, is it not (или isn't it) ? холодно, не правда ли?;
it is not cold, is it? не холодно, правда? ~ at all не стоит( благодарности) ;
not a bit (of it) нисколько;
not but, not but that, not but what хотя;
не то чтобы ~ at all нисколько, ничуть ~ at all не стоит (благодарности) ;
not a bit (of it) нисколько;
not but, not but that, not but what хотя;
не то чтобы ~ at all не стоит (благодарности) ;
not a bit (of it) нисколько;
not but, not but that, not but what хотя;
не то чтобы ~ at all не стоит (благодарности) ;
not a bit (of it) нисколько;
not but, not but that, not but what хотя;
не то чтобы ~ half очень, сильно;
еще как!;
not for the world ни за что на свете;
not in the least нисколько world: ~ outlook( или view) мировоззрение, миропонимание;
to begin the world вступать в новую жизнь;
not for the world ни за что на свете not для усиления: he won't pay you, not he! он-то вам не заплатит, это уж поверьте!;
I won't go there, not I я-то уж не пойду туда not для усиления: he won't pay you, not he! он-то вам не заплатит, это уж поверьте!;
I won't go there, not I я-то уж не пойду туда ~ on your life ни в коем случае;
not to speak of не говоря уже о ~ to order не отдавать приказ ~ to order не отдавать распоряжение ~ on your life ни в коем случае;
not to speak of не говоря уже о ~ a few многие;
немало;
not too well довольно скверно -
72 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) fáir- a few- few and far between -
73 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) kevés- a few- few and far between -
74 few
adj. az, kıt, azıcık————————n. az miktar* * *birkaç* * *[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) az sayıda- a few- few and far between -
75 few
• jokunen• harvat• hiukan• vähälukuinen• vähän• harva• harvalukuinen• muutamat• muutama• pari* * *fju:adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) harvat- a few- few and far between -
76 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) bieži- a few- few and far between* * *nedaudzi, neliels skaits; maz, nedaudz -
77 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) nedaug, mažai- a few- few and far between -
78 few
adj. några, få; flera, en hel del--------n. några, få, ett par; ett fåtal--------pron. några (stycken), få* * *[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) få, sällsynta- a few- few and far between -
79 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) málo, pár- a few- few and far between* * *• málo -
80 few
[fju:]adjective, pronoun(not many; a very small number of: Few people visit me nowadays; every few minutes (= very frequently); Such opportunities are few.) málo- a few- few and far between* * *• tých pár• tých niekolko• menšina• málo• máloktorý• málokto• niekolko
См. также в других словарях:
not a few — ► not a few a considerable number. Main Entry: ↑few … English terms dictionary
not a few — phrasal : quite a few not a few of the members were absent a custom followed in not a few countries * * * not a few A good number (of) • • • Main Entry: ↑few * * * a considerable number his fiction has caused not a few readers … Useful english dictionary
not a few — quite a few or a good few or not a few a good few or not a few a fairly large number of people or things The letter arrived quite a few days ago. I ve turned down a good few job offers … English dictionary
not a few — See: QUITE A FEW … Dictionary of American idioms
not a few — See: QUITE A FEW … Dictionary of American idioms
not\ a\ few — See: quite a few … Словарь американских идиом
not a few — a considerable number. → few … English new terms dictionary
few — W1S1 [fju:] determiner, pron, adj comparative fewer superlative fewest [: Old English; Origin: feawa] 1.) [no comparative] a small number of things or people a few ▪ I have to buy a few things at the supermarket. ▪ Pam called to say she s going… … Dictionary of contemporary English
few — [ fju ] (comparative fewer; superlative fewest) function word, quantifier *** Few can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a plural noun): Few people live there now. There were a few animals in the barn. as a pronoun: Many… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
few — ► DETERMINER , PRONOUN , & ADJECTIVE 1) (a few) a small number of. 2) not many. ► NOUN (the few) ▪ a select minority. ● few and far between Cf. ↑few and far between … English terms dictionary
few and far between — {adj. phr.} Not many; few and scattered; not often met or found; rare. Used in the predicate. * /People who will work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between./ * /Places where you can get water are few and far between in the desert./… … Dictionary of American idioms