Few vs. Phew — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Few and Phew
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Definitions
Few➦
Amounting to or consisting of a small number
One of my few bad habits. See Usage Note at less.
Phew➦
Expressing a strong reaction of relief, or of disgust at a smell
Phew, what a year!
Few➦
Being more than one but indefinitely small in number
Bowled a few strings.
Phew➦
Used to express relief, fatigue, surprise, or disgust.
Few➦
An indefinitely small number of persons or things
A few of the books have torn jackets.
Phew➦
Used to express relief of tension, fatigue, or surprise.
Phew, that took a long time to cook!
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Few➦
An exclusive or limited number
The discerning few.
The fortunate few.
Phew➦
Used to show disgust.
Phew, it stinks in here!
Few➦
(preceded by another determiner) An indefinite, but usually small, number of.
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.]
Few➦
(used alone) Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.
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.
Few➦
Obscuring one to two oktas (eighths) of the sky.
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.
Few➦
(US?) Having a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch); used interchangeably with isolated.
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Few➦
Few people, few things.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
Few➦
Not many; small, limited, or confined in number; - indicating a small portion of units or individuals constituting a whole; often, by ellipsis of a noun, a few people.
Few know and fewer care.
Few➦
An indefinite but relatively small number;
They bought a case of beer and drank a few
Few➦
A small elite group;
It was designed for the discriminating few
Few➦
A quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `a'; a small but indefinite number;
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
