few
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Used to signify the reverse, thus:—"Don’t you call this considerably jolly?" "I believe you, my bo-o-oy, A FEW." Sometimes the reply is, "just a FEW." Another expression of the same kind is RATHER, which see.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “few” mean?
Used to signify the reverse, thus:—"Don’t you call this considerably jolly?" "I believe you, my bo-o-oy, A FEW." Sometimes the reply is, "just a FEW." Another expression of the same kind is RATHER, which see.
Is “few” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.