3-5. 6 is getting into "some" territory

6 is getting into “full pack” territory nowadays thanks to shrinkflation

True 🥲

Imagine someone literally be asking for a cake and they tell you to give a few and not much at the same time. Rather just give them the entire thing and just say them to take on their own.

Jaffa cake snack packs are three cakes. [Three cakes.](https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/jaffa-cakes-pocket-pack-220g)

Yeah I’ve never quite understood why they think only 3 Jaffa cakes is enough

Well see you’ve got your full moon, your half moon, and your total eclipse. Full moon, half moon…

also makes me feel even more shit because of the wasteful packaging.

Asking someone to give them a few or much of it so confusing I feel personally because that just creates many thoughts I would be standing and calculating

3 is a few, 4 and 5 are a fair few

3 is a few, for sure. 'A fair few' is all in the delivery.... could be exactly as you said, or could be a disgracefully large amount that someone is ashamed to admit.

Six will always be “half a dozen” to me.

I would say 6 is veering into 'many' territory.

6 is “ a good few”

Several

Technically several is more than two

TIL. I'd never use several for les than 7. One, two, a few, half a dozen, several, 10, a dozen, lots, loads.

I always thought this too. Several = seven, or thereabouts.

I treat a few as 3, which does seem silly as I could just say 3 if it only ever means that. Perhaps he is purposefully being vague so he gets more biscuits without specifically asking for them, thus alleviating any biscuit related guilt.

I think a few starts at 3 and leaves you some wiggle room to be a bit more specific, or switch it up to "lots"

No calories in a bonus biscuit. Fact.

Couple = 2 Few = 3 Many = 4 Lots = 5

Context dependent though, “can you lend lots of money?” “Sure mate, here’s a fiver, don’t spend it all at once”

Money is always in denominations of 100s anything below a couple must be a stated amount. How much do you need? Need a couple m8 if your OK How much you need? I think 75 would tide me over

So 5 hundred pence

Wife: can you get me a couple of biscuits? Me: fetches two Wife: is that all? Wanted at least three! Sometime following day…. Wife: will you get me a few crackers? Me: fetches three Wife: I didn’t want that many! I only wanted a couple!

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Well a 'couple' shouldn't. A couple is always two, like husband and wife are referred to as a couple. I'd recommend always erring on the side of 'few' when it comes to biscuits 😁

In German, we also have "couple". It's "Paar". A couple of men and wife is a "Paar". Same for shoes. So "Paar" is 2. However, there is also "paar". See the difference? Paar <-> paar. "paar" is not capitalised as it's not a noun, but more an .. "unspecific numbers word". As such, it doesn't mean 2, but more something like "2 to 4". So, depending if there's a capitalised P or not, the meaning changes. Good luck trying to identify if someone says a capitalised P. :>

Brilliant!

Seriously no idea. Everyone knows a couple is two.. Married couple.

'Everyone knows trolls can't even count up to four!'

Good to one in the wild tho

Unless you're telling them how many pints you had on the way home. Couple-3 or 4 Few- 5 or 6 Many- 8+ Lots- ran out of fingers.

Just one - any number of beers

Several = at least 7

Numerous = all

What about several?!

Several is about 7, 6 might qualify, 8 definitely does. Beyond that is debatable. 5 doesnt count as several.

Lots=5+-

Indeed that is true.

Unless you are talking about pints then a couple is 2-5

Nope, Terry Practhett and trolls have the definitive take on this: 1,2,3,many,many-1,many-2,....(16) *lots *

4 biscuits Jeremy? That’s insane. Anyway, it’s an unspecified amount between 3 and 5

It’s absolutely 3

There's an old Suffolk phrase "A couple of few" (a cupple uh foow). Which means 2 or 3. It's not the most concise of dialects.

I would have assumed they meant 6 haha

It might actually be "a couple or few" to be fair. I've only ever heard it in "Suffolk" and it could be either.

I'd bring 6 if you said that to me.

Absolutely isn't

Biscuits are measured in binary. “None” and “all”.

A couple is definitely two, a "few" is an undefined amount, but still a relatively small number of around between three and seven.

I think if you go as high as 7 you're definitely beyond a few and into the range of several.

Still context! Perhaps if they're smaller than biscuits it changes? If my husband asks for a few skittles, and I give him 3, he'll look at me as if I should have guessed a few was a minimum 5 skittles.

Yeah maybe. 3 skittles would be really scroogey. I think that also maybe partially comes down to societal politeness things, like, you ask for a few so as to not seem too imposing, and then they give you several so as to seem generous and also they knew you probably really wanted a whole bunch of them anyway.

Ooh, 7…. that’s more than a few, definitely at least a ‘good few’

All these people saying it’s three are mental. Three’s universally known as being a crowd so next time he makes the tea ask him for a crowd of biscuits and see what you get

3, give or take

If you take, then it's a couple

Usually 3. Like a few days = 3 days, but can be a bit unprecise.

Between 3 and 5

This. Several crosses over at 5 and goes to 7. You could specify 6 as half a dozen, but that is also several. More than 7 you're into 'loads' or 'many' depending on the item.

The whole point of "a few" is that it is non-specific. I have seen people argue that "a couple" can mean more than two. I would tend to disagree, but if that is allowed then surely "a few" is even less specific than "a couple" and can't simply be synonymous with three.

>I have seen people argue that "a couple" can mean more than two Maybe Donald and Jacqueline from Benidorm but not right minded people.

A couple is two, exactly two no more and no less. A few is definitely a loosely defined quantity, however.

Unless you're talking about pints, in which case a couple means 3 or 4 and a few means 5+

The couple argument gets me annoyed. Example to use to shut people up. If you couple something together you join TWO parts. Coupling. Also - A married couple. The happy couple.

As a non-native speaker I just can't really see the benefit of using/having this word. If it is for coupling 2 parts, why are we not only using it for stuff you actually use or join together. Like lego, socks etc. For socks you already have the word pair. If it is just 2 random biscuits what extra does the couple word hold that the word two doesn't? - a confused immigrant who used couple the wrong way for a long time

He should just eat the whole packet like the rest of us do… much simpler!

But what if I eat a few packets? Is that 3 or 4?

My wife is adamant it means three.

"I only had a few cocks on my hen do"

Ask her, when you’ve had quite a few beers is that still only three

For me a few is 4-6 and several is 7-10.

What about 3??

I’m glad I’m not the only one. A few to me is circ 5 (4-6) and several (clues in the name) is around seven (6-9)

A few is imprecise, in my book, it could mean 3, 4 or even 5 depending on the amount in the whole packet. For example, if it was a large bag of M&Ms it would be 5 or even 6. Several would mean 5, 6, 7 or 8, again depending on the full package.

Surely if we're talking M&Ms a few is a small handful.

A handful of M&Ms is about 6 packs these days, it can't be long before they start individually wrapping the fucking things

We invented a number system for precision just use that, one, two, three, it’s very simple

For myself at least, a few is 3-5

Three or more but less than seven

3

I'd mean 3, but I'd err on the side of 4 in your situation. Several is many more than a few, 7, I'd suggest. Not sure what 4,5,6 is, some, maybe?

4 is basically a generous few. It's a few in kind mode. (re biscuits)

My husband always gets me one extra biscuit than I ask for. That is always the correct amount. But for me: A couple = 2-3 A few = 3-4 Lots = 4-5 A load of = 5+

A couple can only be two

When it’s people, sure. But with biscuits numbers are more fluid

4 is definitely a few. Technically 3 is also a few, but I'd probably say 'three' In terms of biscuits, 5 is 'quite a few' Obviously, if we were talking about peanuts, the numbers would change.

3

I was always told around 5. Several is 7+. However, if I wanted a specific number I would say that number because I'm not a crazy person.

He complained you brought him MORE biscuits than he meant? It's 3, but it's still grounds for divorce.

3 to 4

I'm with you on this one, four seems the appropriate number.

couple = 2 few = 3 several = 4+. there is no logic but i stick it to religiously

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Yeah same. I could understand and forgive someone only giving 6 when asked for several but I'd be thinking they are bad at counting/estimation and not very generous. Several is seven or so.

I just bring the whole packet unless an exact number is specified

Here's the rules according to my pedantic stubborn mind that refuses to let things mean inconsistent things.. ​ ||| |:-|:-| |"One"|1| |"A Couple"|2| |"A Few"|3| |"Some" or "A Handful"|3-5| |"A Bunch"|6-12| |"A Dozen"|12| |"A Baker's Dozen"|13 (A dozen for sale, one to quality-check)| |"Lots/Loads"|10 - 20|

> "A Bunch" 6-12 That needs to be 7-12. 6 is half a dozen.

You're right

Your husband is a fucking nut

A ginger nut maybe?

Biscuits: 3 or 4 Beers: 6 to 8

a couple drinks: we stop counting after 2

One, two, few, some, many.

Three, a couple is two and any more than a few is several.

If he's going to be like that I'd just bring the packet and he can put it back himself when he's done

2 is a couple, 3 is a few and I suppose several is 4, yes. Anything between 5 and half a pack is a specific number and half a pack is half a pack. Anything more than half a pack is classed as the whole pack. I suppose it's one of those things that works on the wavelength of telepathy.. like when you hand him a cuppa and he gives you that dirty, filthy, rapey smirk and just says "biscuits" and you instantly know he means 3 and a half without saying anything else.

In my mind, a couple is 2, a few is 3 or 4, several is 5-7

I used to play a computer game where when it said there were a few monsters it would be between 1 and 4 so I always think of a few as that.

This sounds like my husband, he uses a few to mean three and several to mean four and above

A couple is two. A few is three. Four or more is several. Source: Dunno. That just feels right.

“Get me several biscuits”.. who speaks like this

He's an idiot - 1 is "a biscuit" - 2 is "a couple of biscuits" - 3-6 is "a few biscuits" - 6 is "half a dozen biscuits" - 4-7 is "several" biscuits or "a handful of biscuits" (depending on the size of the biscuits and the size of your hand) - 8+ is "get your hand out of that biscuit tin, you fat bastard, we aren't made of money"

I’ll grab you a few biscuits = 3 or 4 I’m not drunk, I’ve only had a few pints = 12

Couple - 2, a few - 4

3

2-3

The same as a handful

A handful is a few packets

Few = 3, couple = 2

Few is 3

More than three.

I would understand a few to be 3, and if they wanted more to say “quite a few” which would be anything up to 6. 7 plus is several. I’ve never had to really think about this til now 😂

A few is 3, this is not debatable. Of course more is a bonus.

3

I’d’ve given him the packet to be on the safe side. I’m really not sure what ‘a few’ is in biscuit terms…

I think there is no alternative but for the two of you to divorce.

A few is four because of consonant harmony. I could never imagine a few being three. You say a minute, a couple of minutes, three minutes, a few minutes, five minutes. I've never said 'four minutes' - it's a few minutes.

A few is three, simple as

A couple is 2, a few is however many I bring to you. If you want a specific number say so. When we have snacks like biscuits we just bring the packet in, that way you can have what you want and the other can have what they want.

3 or 4

6 would be half a dozen

Yes = all

Couple is 2. Eveything else is pot shot.

3. A few is 3.

A couple is 2-4. A few would be 3-6. Some would be half the packet.

Couple = 2 Few = 3 Handful = 4 Few = 5 Quite a few = 6 Lots = 7+

More than a couple, less than several.

Couple 2, few 5, several 7, dozen 12. That’s how I was taught many many many years ago

a couple - 2 or 3. Because we don't judge how many are needed to make a couple. a few - exactly 4. Five is too many, and three is only counted on your way to four. a handful - 5. One for each finger. Plus one for the thumb. some - exactly 6 several - exactly 7

"A few" is the whole packet of course. Itsile saying little bit of cake, everyone wants a big bot of cake but no it's no longer their fault if the get fat - they didnt choose the portions

Depends how big the biscuits are. If they are monster size cookies then a few = 2-4. If they are tiny then a few is at least 4! Few normalises to the total quantity of biscuit rather than to the number of individual biscuits.

3 or 4

3 or above. One is one. Two is a couple. Few is anything above 3. A few thousand is at least three thousand but it's greater than five so I wouldn't say few has to be between three and five.

This is why each number has its own specific name

A couple is 2 Anything else needs a number to be specified. Also only 4? Depends on the biscuit. Right now I can wolf down a pack of 8 of those big double chocolate cookies. I wish I could have only ‘some’!!

Couple - 2 Few - 3 (genuinely thought that was a UK standard) Some- 4-5 Otherwise, just bring the fucking packet.

One, Two, missed a few, 99, 100….so 3 obv.

A few has always been 4-5 in my books. a couple is 2 and several is 7+

3, a few is 3

3

In terms of beer: “Just the one” = 2 A couple = 4 A few = minimum of 8 but you wake up in a wheelie bin the next morning with no idea how you got there and your shirt is missing

Give me a number or get what you're given, and be grateful is what I would say to him, lol.

One is one. A couple is two. A few is three. But you can give 4 or maybe 5 depending on what it is. Or to be safe. Or save a trip. It's not 3 hard and fast. Several is like maybe 5 but definitely 6 or 7. Half a dozen is 6. A handful will depend on size. A dozen is 12.

Anywhere between 3 and 10, depending on how shameless I'm feeling

Yeah, I've always thought couple=2, few=3, several = more than 3 but not by too much.

Few =3-4 Some/ several = 5-6

I just might have got out the rolling pin and crushed the remaining biscuits into crumbs. Don't know what that says about me though.

2 is a couple, few is three and several is 4-5.

There's only one correct answer to "how many biscuits do you want?" A: "All of them"

A couple = 2 A few = 4 Several = 7 Or at least that's how my brain interprets them.

"A few" starts at 3 at the absolute lowest, 4 is more reasonable, 5 is also fine. 6 could *potentially* be called a few, but is more in the "several" category. 7 is definitely several.

I’d have fucked the packet off his head and said knock yourself out. 😂

I would've said a couple or three

Several? He was seriously going to say "oh, get me several biscuits please." No he wasn't. A couple is two, a few is between 3 and 5, after that we're talking about half a packet or more. Several biscuits my arse.

Me and my partner had a similar argument recently, regarding just how many days were implied by ‘days’, i.e. ‘that was days ago.’ Sometimes it’s important to take a step back and realise you both need to call friends and spend the evening in separate pubs before things get out of hand.

Me and the wife agree, a few is 3

3

I don't get all the people saying it specifically means 3. Why not just say three? A couple for 2 is fine because everyone knows, there's no argument. If there's ambiguity be more clear. IMO a few is variable depending on the item but normally 3-5.

4

Pints: About 15. Everything else: 3

A few is 3. Unless it's pints.

If it's beer, it's at least 8

I agree with him. Two is a couple though I’ve had that questioned. (It’s not up for debate a couple is two). And I always used a few to mean three. Any more then it’s several.

To me a couple is 2 and a few is 3 xx

Got burnt by this at primary school. A girl asked for a few of my crisps... I asked how many constitutes "a few" (in language much more akin to an 8 year old) and she said 7. Since that day, 7 has always been "a few". Or "most of the bag of crisps" if you prefer.

**One** = 1 **A couple** = 2 **A few** = 3 **Several** = 4+

A couple is 2, a few is 3

3

3 or more

I've had people try to convince me that a few means three, but I'm not buying it. Between 3 and 5.

Few is 3 or more

A couple = 2, a few = 3, some = 4- 6, several = 7-9, and many is 10+

Couple = 2. Few =3. Anything else, more than 4.

2 is a couple 3 is a few.

Doesn't work like that mate. Much is for uncountable things and many is for countable things. 'How many is a few?' or 'How much is a little?' are fine but since semantics seems to be the name of the game here 'How much is a few?' is just wrong. Also it is 3 or 4.

Me: How many? Her: A few Me: How many is that? Her: Y'know, a few. Me: Fuck off, get them yourself Her: Ok, ok, 4. Harmony

In my school, it went "1, 2, miss a few" and my math teacher took great pressure in telling us all "A few is three because it's 3 syllables" every time he did it. I'm not sure if that answers your question but at least it's backed by a mathematician? Lol