quite\ a\ number

quite\ a\ number
• quite a few
• quite a number
also formal not a few
noun or adj. phr.
Rather a large number; more than a few.

Quite a few went to the game.

The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it.

- the phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more".

Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night.

- Sometimes used like an adverb.

We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York.

Syn.: good many, not a few
Compare: a few, a number

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • quite a number — See: QUITE A FEW …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • quite a number — See: QUITE A FEW …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • (quite) a number of something — phrase used for giving a general idea of how many people or things you are referring to A number of students (=more than a few, but not many) have part time jobs. We’ve met on a number of occasions. Quite a number of paintings (=many paintings) …   Useful english dictionary

  • quite a few — or[quite a number] also {formal}[not a few] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. * /Quite a few went to the game./ * /The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./ The phrase quite a number is used like an adjective only …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • quite a few — or[quite a number] also {formal}[not a few] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. * /Quite a few went to the game./ * /The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./ The phrase quite a number is used like an adjective only …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • quite\ a\ few — • quite a few • quite a number also formal not a few noun or adj. phr. Rather a large number; more than a few. Quite a few went to the game. The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it. the phrase quite a number is used like an adjective only… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • quite a bit — See: QUITE A LITTLE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • quite a bit — See: QUITE A LITTLE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • number — num|ber1 [ nʌmbər ] noun *** ▸ 1 sign/word for amount ▸ 2 for showing position ▸ 3 telephone number ▸ 4 for marking something ▸ 5 a quantity ▸ 6 piece of music ▸ 7 someone/something attractive etc. ▸ 8 in linguistics ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count a sign …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • number — I UK [ˈnʌmbə(r)] / US [ˈnʌmbər] noun Word forms number : singular number plural numbers *** 1) [countable] a sign or word that represents an amount or quantity. 1, 2, 3 etc and one , two , three etc are numbers Can you read the numbers on the… …   English dictionary

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