Few vs. Occasional — What's the Difference?

One of my few bad habits. See Usage Note at less.

The occasional car went by but no taxis

Bowled a few strings.

A few of the books have torn jackets.

Occasional verse.

The discerning few.

The fortunate few.

An occasional chair.

There are a few cars (=some, but a relatively small number) in the street.

Quite a few people (=a significant number) were pleasantly surprised.

I think he's had a few drinks. [This usage is likely ironic.]

There are very few people who understand quantum theory.

I was expecting a big crowd at the party, but very few people (=almost none) turned up.

An occasional hunter.

Tonight: A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight.

NOAA definition of the term "few clouds": An official sky cover classification for aviation weather observations, descriptive of a sky cover of 1/8 to 2/8. This is applied only when obscuring phenomena aloft are present--that is, not when obscuring phenomena are surface-based, such as fog.

He was mostly solitary, but enjoyed the occasional visitor.

He took an occasional glass of wine.

Elgar's music was not created to be occasional music for high-school graduations.

Many are called, but few are chosen.

What your living room needs are some occasional chairs.

Few know and fewer care.

He is an occasional writer of letters to the editor.

They bought a case of beer and drank a few

It was designed for the discriminating few

The . . . occasional writing of the present times.

A few weeks ago

A few more wagons than usual

An invalid's pleasures are few and far between

Few roses were still blooming

Few women have led troops in battle

Took an occasional glass of wine

Episodic in his affections

Occasional headaches

Casual employment

A casual correspondence with a former teacher

An occasional worker