Handful
noun
An amount of something that can be held in one hand.
He ate a handful of popcorn
Often appears as...
- a handful of
- handfuls of
noun
Someone or something hard to manage or control.
Her toddler is a real handful
Often appears as...
- a real handful
- be a handful
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
An amount of something that can be held in one hand.
He ate a handful of popcorn
Often appears as...
- a handful of
- handfuls of
noun
Someone or something hard to manage or control.
Her toddler is a real handful
Often appears as...
- a real handful
- be a handful
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Quantity Context
Use 'handful' to describe small amounts that aren't exact, like a few items or a small group.
She picked up a handful of marbles from the ground.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Literal Use
'Handful' suggests a non-precise quantity, often used figuratively rather than literally.
I've only got a handful of friends in the city.
Pro Tip 3/3Tangible Quantities
Prefer 'handful' when referring to physical things rather than abstract concepts.
He grabbed a handful of jelly beans.
Pro Tip 1/3Quantity Context
Use 'handful' to describe small amounts that aren't exact, like a few items or a small group.
She picked up a handful of marbles from the ground.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Literal Use
'Handful' suggests a non-precise quantity, often used figuratively rather than literally.
I've only got a handful of friends in the city.
Pro Tip 3/3Tangible Quantities
Prefer 'handful' when referring to physical things rather than abstract concepts.
He grabbed a handful of jelly beans.
Pro Tip 1/3Quantity Context
Use 'handful' to describe small amounts that aren't exact, like a few items or a small group.
She picked up a handful of marbles from the ground.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-Literal Use
'Handful' suggests a non-precise quantity, often used figuratively rather than literally.
I've only got a handful of friends in the city.
Pro Tip 3/3Tangible Quantities
Prefer 'handful' when referring to physical things rather than abstract concepts.
He grabbed a handful of jelly beans.
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Video examples
Where Your Cat Goes May...
backyards what we want to do is really crowdsource this take this into the world of citizen science so it's not just a few scientists tracking a handful of animals but hundreds of volunteers tracking hopefully thousands of cats and we generally advocate that people keep their cats indoors but if you do let
Video examples
Is our universe the only...
privileged era when certain deep truths about the cosmos are still within reach of the human spirit of exploration it appears that it may not always be that way because today's astronomers by turning powerful telescopes to the sky have captured a handful of starkly informative photons
Video examples
What would happen if you...
studies show that chronically sleeping fewer than six hours a night increases stroke risk by four and half times compared to those getting a consistent seven to eight hours of shuteye. For a handful of people on the planet who carry a rare inherited genetic mutation,
Video examples
To listen is to live PIPE...
some of them made me laugh a few of them made me cry I handful of them really scared me but I found myself seeing the world through a whole new lens at the risk of sounding slightly dramatic I felt literally transformed by the experience I could not wait to go home
Video examples
This Fungus Turns...
collection houses over a million specimens which have come from all over the world amongst the shells of the climate-controlled collection a handful of disturbing bugs stand out these unfortunate creatures have all been victims of varieties of zombie fungi
Video examples
The Killer Rat with...
And they're able to harvest the venom in their teeth, Which is pretty impressive. And also duck billed platypus males, they've got the claw when they when they're protecting females from other males. Exactly. Exactly that. So only a handful of species.
Video examples
Saving a Pangolin's Life...
fortunately this traumatized animal will have a second chance thanks to maria she's one of only a handful of people in the world to have successfully rehabilitated pangolins but for everyone she saves thousands more are being taken from the
Video examples
Adorable Baby Animal...
diablo and his mate sophia are certainly playing their part in helping to maintain the survival of giant otters in this part of the amazon but so many cups will be quite a handful the family will certainly have their
Video examples
How to Raise Successful...
cajoling, hinting, helping, haggling, nagging as the case may be, to be sure they're not screwing up, not closing doors, not ruining their future, some hoped-for admission to a tiny handful of colleges
Video examples
What a World Champion...
chapstick there is a handful of people around the world who can whistle love to whistle and have turned a routine type of sound into heart
Video examples
Where Your Cat Goes May...
backyards what we want to do is really crowdsource this take this into the world of citizen science so it's not just a few scientists tracking a handful of animals but hundreds of volunteers tracking hopefully thousands of cats and we generally advocate that people keep their cats indoors but if you do let
Video examples
Is our universe the only...
privileged era when certain deep truths about the cosmos are still within reach of the human spirit of exploration it appears that it may not always be that way because today's astronomers by turning powerful telescopes to the sky have captured a handful of starkly informative photons
Video examples
What would happen if you...
studies show that chronically sleeping fewer than six hours a night increases stroke risk by four and half times compared to those getting a consistent seven to eight hours of shuteye. For a handful of people on the planet who carry a rare inherited genetic mutation,
Video examples
To listen is to live PIPE...
some of them made me laugh a few of them made me cry I handful of them really scared me but I found myself seeing the world through a whole new lens at the risk of sounding slightly dramatic I felt literally transformed by the experience I could not wait to go home
Video examples
This Fungus Turns...
collection houses over a million specimens which have come from all over the world amongst the shells of the climate-controlled collection a handful of disturbing bugs stand out these unfortunate creatures have all been victims of varieties of zombie fungi
Video examples
The Killer Rat with...
And they're able to harvest the venom in their teeth, Which is pretty impressive. And also duck billed platypus males, they've got the claw when they when they're protecting females from other males. Exactly. Exactly that. So only a handful of species.
Video examples
Saving a Pangolin's Life...
fortunately this traumatized animal will have a second chance thanks to maria she's one of only a handful of people in the world to have successfully rehabilitated pangolins but for everyone she saves thousands more are being taken from the
Video examples
Adorable Baby Animal...
diablo and his mate sophia are certainly playing their part in helping to maintain the survival of giant otters in this part of the amazon but so many cups will be quite a handful the family will certainly have their
Video examples
How to Raise Successful...
cajoling, hinting, helping, haggling, nagging as the case may be, to be sure they're not screwing up, not closing doors, not ruining their future, some hoped-for admission to a tiny handful of colleges
Video examples
What a World Champion...
chapstick there is a handful of people around the world who can whistle love to whistle and have turned a routine type of sound into heart
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Gavin Esler
Scottish Journalist
In years of interviewing presidents, prime ministers and chief executives all over the world, I can remember only a handful of times in which a leader has said: 'I don't know' in answer to a question. Perhaps everyone I have ever interviewed knows everything about everything, but I doubt it.
Quote examples
Gillian Zinser
American Actress
The people in my life are friends I have by choice. I've made a conscious effort to have them in life. I only have the time and energy for so many people, which has cut down my friend group to a handful, but I'm so much happier with fewer good people, who really do know me.
Quote examples
Zac Goldsmith
British Politician
GM has never been about feeding the world or tackling environmental problems. It is and has always been about control of the global food economy by a tiny handful of giant corporations. It's not wicked to question that process. It is wicked not to.
Quote examples
Zacky Vengeance
American Musician
Once you can get a fan to listen to an album a handful of times and really have a lot of substance for them to grasp, then you're looking at having a fan that really appreciates what you do for life and can appreciate coming to see it live.
Quote examples
Charles R. Swindoll
American Clergyman
I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun.
Quote examples
Jim Nantz
American Entertainer
I've heard it said that the average person is lucky to have only a handful of true friends in their lifetime. Well, I sincerely feel I've got millions.
Quote examples
James Wan
Australian Producer
If you come down to it, there's only a handful of worlds that action films live in. You have your car chases, your gun fights, and your fights.
Quote examples
Brad Pitt
Actor
I have very few friends. I have a handful of close friends, and I have my family, and I haven't known life to be any happier.
Quote examples
Jim Nabors
American Actor
No man has more than a handful of close friends. He may find some of them early in life, some later.
Quote examples
Jeff Dunham
American Comedian
I think all the garbage in the world is thanks to a very small handful of idiots.
Quote examples
Gavin Esler
Scottish Journalist
In years of interviewing presidents, prime ministers and chief executives all over the world, I can remember only a handful of times in which a leader has said: 'I don't know' in answer to a question. Perhaps everyone I have ever interviewed knows everything about everything, but I doubt it.
Quote examples
Gillian Zinser
American Actress
The people in my life are friends I have by choice. I've made a conscious effort to have them in life. I only have the time and energy for so many people, which has cut down my friend group to a handful, but I'm so much happier with fewer good people, who really do know me.
Quote examples
Zac Goldsmith
British Politician
GM has never been about feeding the world or tackling environmental problems. It is and has always been about control of the global food economy by a tiny handful of giant corporations. It's not wicked to question that process. It is wicked not to.
Quote examples
Zacky Vengeance
American Musician
Once you can get a fan to listen to an album a handful of times and really have a lot of substance for them to grasp, then you're looking at having a fan that really appreciates what you do for life and can appreciate coming to see it live.
Quote examples
Charles R. Swindoll
American Clergyman
I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun.
Quote examples
Jim Nantz
American Entertainer
I've heard it said that the average person is lucky to have only a handful of true friends in their lifetime. Well, I sincerely feel I've got millions.
Quote examples
James Wan
Australian Producer
If you come down to it, there's only a handful of worlds that action films live in. You have your car chases, your gun fights, and your fights.
Quote examples
Brad Pitt
Actor
I have very few friends. I have a handful of close friends, and I have my family, and I haven't known life to be any happier.
Quote examples
Jim Nabors
American Actor
No man has more than a handful of close friends. He may find some of them early in life, some later.
Quote examples
Jeff Dunham
American Comedian
I think all the garbage in the world is thanks to a very small handful of idiots.
Example 1 of 10
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