Poll: How many is a few?

[Mr Cwtchy]

I would say 3-5.

Since two is a couple, twelve is a dozen and six is half a dozen.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Other: Two is a couple, twelve is a dozen so three to eleven is a few.

I've always used it to mean "more than a couple, less than half a dozen". That's just my take on it though, it's still pretty much the couple/dozen thing.

Hmm forgot about half a dozen, this throws the scale right off.

Well I use "a singleton(1), a couple(2), a few(3-5), half a dozen(6), quite a few(7-11), a dozen(12), lots(13-19), a score(20), and sh*itloads(21+)". It's a highly scientific and accurate system, accepted by most academic bodies worldwide!

 

[Jamieson 90]

I have always used these.

Couple = 2
a few = 3
Quite a few = 4-5
Half a dozen = 6
Dozen 12.

 

[Naheal]

Depends on the situation. If someone says that there's "a few tyranids coming over" I'm thinking upwards of a hundred.

 

[AvsJoe]

It depends. Usually 3 though.

 

[Betancore]

'A few' to me usually means three or more, but less than seven. Because if there are two, I'd use 'a couple' and if there are seven then I'd use 'several.' Depends though, because if it's not something that already has a word like 'a dozen' to describe it then I'd probably still use 'a few.'

 

[RaeveSpam]

In Heroes 3 of Might and Magic few is from 1 to 5.

 

[YouBecame]

a few is 3 or more, but up to a dozen.

But then what is a bunch?

 

[Argtee]

Well, a couple would be 2, so I guess a few would be 3.

 

[ethaninja]

Depends. A few usually is 3-5 for me, but a few can be up to 10, too.

Aye ditto. Although sometimes I'll say several when it's around 7-10.