- quite\ a\ few
- • quite a few• quite a numberalso formal not a fewnoun 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 fewCompare: a few, a number
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.