quite some
Appearance
English
[edit]Determiner
[edit]- (idiomatic) a considerable amount of
- 1913, Arthur M. Winfield, “Chapter 15”, in The Rover Boys in New York:
- "Yes, a number of days ago. We had quite some important business to transact. He said he would come back the next day and sign some papers, and fix up some other matters. But he didn't come."
- 1995, Wesley Ellis, Lone Star:
- It's been quite some time since we've just sat down together for a quiet meal. Nobody's going to interrupt us, so we can talk during supper.”
- (proscribed) a considerable number of
- very large or impressive.
- 2011, Gwynne Forster, Breaking the Ties That Bind:
- “That's quite some talent you've got,” Bert Richards said. “I'd like to hear you play something from an older classical composer. […] ”
Usage notes
[edit]This term is typically used with an uncountable noun to mean "a considerable amount of". Some ESL writers also use it with a countable noun to mean "a considerable number of", but this is proscribed in favor of quite a few.
Synonyms
[edit]- (a considerable number of): quite a few