a few cards short of a deck
дословно: "несколько карт не хватает до колоды"
Не очень умный, немного сумасшедший, слабоумный; "не все дома".
Не очень умный, немного сумасшедший, слабоумный; "не все дома".
The man often does very strange things. He is a few cards short of a deck.
Этот мужчина всегда совершает очень странные поступки. Он немного не дружит с головой.
a few
A small number (of people or things); some. Usually a few is different in meaning from few, which emphasizes the negative; a few means some, but few means not many.
The dry weather killed most of Mother's flowers, but a few are left.
In the store, Mary saw many pretty rings and bracelets, and she wanted to buy a few of them.
After the party, we thought that no one would help clean up, but a few couples did.
Alice wanted to read a few pages more before she stopped.
We thought no one would come to lunch, but a few came.
We thought many people would come to lunch, but few came.
Sometimes a few is used with only, and then it is negative.
We thought many people would come to lunch, but only a few came.
Sometimes used like an adverb.
Three students have no seats; we need a few more chairs.
If we can set up chairs faster than people come and sit in them, we will soon be a few ahead.
Sometimes used with very for emphasis.
Uncle Ralph gave away almost all of his sea shells, but he still had a very few left.
quite a few
quite a number
not a few
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.
Quite a few students were absent yesterday, in fact, more than half of them were not there.
We did not expect many people to attend the affair, but quite a few of our friends actually came.
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.