handful
handful — noun
1. The quantity of something — such as sand, berries, or coins — that fits comforta
The quantity of something — such as sand, berries, or coins — that fits comfortably inside a closed hand.
Walid picked up a handful of dry sand and let it run through his fingers.
countable noun phrase: a handful of + uncountable noun
The recipe calls for a handful of fresh basil leaves chopped into small pieces.
a handful of + countable plural noun
Camila grabbed a handful of coins from the jar on the kitchen counter.
The little girl offered the horse a handful of sugar cubes and giggled.
文法句型
a handful of + [uncountable noun]
用法筆記
This sense is always used with the indefinite article 'a' and is followed by 'of' before the noun describing what is held.
常見錯誤
2. Used to describe a group that is notably small — often fewer than expected — whe
Used to describe a group that is notably small — often fewer than expected — whether referring to people, objects, or occurrences.
Only a handful of students signed up for the early morning lecture on Fridays.
a handful of + plural countable noun (people)
A handful of countries have successfully landed spacecraft on the surface of the Moon.
After the storm, Amira found only a handful of ripe blueberries left on the bush.
Despite the heavy rain, a handful of loyal fans waited outside the theatre for two hours.
- few
More neutral; does not carry the same 'surprisingly small' connotation as 'handful'.
- minority
Used when the small group is contrasted with a larger group; more formal.
- sprinkling
Suggests things are scattered or spread out rather than gathered together.
文法句型
a handful of + [plural countable noun]
用法筆記
The emphasis is on surprise or contrast — the number is smaller than expected or possible. Often used with 'only', 'just', or 'merely'.
常見錯誤
3. A person — especially a child — or an animal whose energetic, disobedient, or de
A person — especially a child — or an animal whose energetic, disobedient, or demanding behaviour makes them hard to manage.
Their youngest son is a real handful — he never sits still during class.
predicative: be a handful (informal)
The new puppy is an absolute handful; she has chewed three pairs of shoes this week.
Rosa says her two-year-old twins can be a handful at the grocery store.
Teaching that energetic group of ten-year-olds was quite a handful for the substitute teacher.
- troublemaker
Deliberately causes problems; 'handful' does not imply bad intentions, only difficulty in management.
- live wire
Describes someone full of energy; less negative than 'handful'.
- handful (of work)
Less common; some dialects extend 'handful' to projects or tasks, but this is non-standard.
文法句型
a handful (predicative after 'be' or 'become')
用法筆記
Always singular and used with the indefinite article. Common intensifiers: 'a real handful', 'quite a handful', 'an absolute handful'. Typically describes children or pets, but can extend to any person whose behaviour is a challenge.