few

catch some rays and bag some rays

Fig. to get some sunshine; to tan in the sun. We wanted to catch some rays, but the sun never came out the whole time we were there. I went to Hawaii to bag some rays.

See also: catch, ray, some

drop someone a line and drop someone a few lines; drop someone a note

to write a letter or a note to someone. (The line refers to lines of writing.) I dropped Aunt Jane a line last Thanks giving. She usually drops me a few lines around the first of the year. Drop me a note when you get a chance.

See also: and, drop, line, note

few and far between

very few; few and widely scattered. Get some gasoline now. Service stations on this highway are few and far between. Some people think that good movies are few and far between.

See also: and, far

few bricks short of a load and few cards shy of a full deck; few cards short of a deck; not playing with a full deck; two bricks shy of a load

Fig. lacking in intellectual ability. (Many other variants.) Tom: Joe thinks he can build a car out of old milk jugs. Mary: I think Joe's a few bricks short of a load. Ever since she fell and hit her head, Jane's been a few bricks short of a load, if you know what I'm saying. Bob's nice, but he's not playing with a full deck. You twit! You're two bricks shy of a load.

See also: brick, load, short

get off a few good ones

Fig. to tell a few good jokes; to land a few good punches; to manage to make a few strong criticisms. The comedian managed to get off a few good ones, but most of his material was old or obscene.

See also: get, good, one

hang a few on

to take a few drinks; to have a few beers. They went out to hang a few on. Let's hang on a few and then go on to the meeting.

See also: hang

have one too many and have a few too many

Euph. to be drunk. He had one too many, and now he's throwing up. You'd better not drive. I think you've had a few too many.

See also: have, many, one

He who begins many things, finishes but few.

Prov. If you start a lot of projects, you will not have time and energy to complete them all. (Can be used to warn someone against starting too many projects.) Sarah's room is littered with sweaters and mittens she started to knit but never finished, a testament to the fact that she who begins many things, finishes but few.

See also: begin, but, finish, many, who

I have to wash a few things out. 

1. Lit. I have to wash things by hand, such as socks and underwear. I have to wash a few things out before I go to bed. She has to wash out a few things.

2. Fig. I have to do something (that keeps me from spending time with you). Jane: Time to shove off. I have to wash a few things out. John: Bye, Jane. Bill: I have to wash out a few things. Bob: Why don't you use a machine? Bill: Oh, I'll see you later.

See also: have, out, thing, wash

man of few words

Fig. someone, not necessarily a man, who speaks concisely or not at all. He is a man of few words, but he usually makes a lot of sense.

See also: man, word

Many are called but few are chosen.

Prov. Many people may answer a call for something, but only a few people are finally selected. (Biblical.) When it comes to getting into a good college, many are called but few are chosen.

See also: but, call, chosen, many

open some doors (for someone) and open a few doors (for someone)

Fig. to gain access to opportunity or influence (for someone). Morris was able to open a few doors for Mary and get her an interview with thepres-ident.

See also: door, open, some

precious few and precious little

very few; very little. (Few for people or things that can be counted, and little for amounts.) We get precious few tourists here in the winter. There's precious little food in the house and there is no money.

pull (some) strings and pull a few strings

to use influence (with someone to get something done). I can get it done easily by pulling a few strings. Is it possible to get anything done around here without pulling some strings?

See also: pull, string

quite a few and quite a lot; quite a bit; quite a number

much or many. Do you need one? I have quite a few. I have quite a bit—enough to spare some. How many? Oh, quite a number.

See also: quite

raise some eyebrows and raise a few eyebrows

Fig. to shock or surprise people mildly (by doing or saying something). (Some can be replaced with a few, someone's, a lot of, etc.) What you just said may raise some eyebrows, but it shouldn't make anyone really angry. John's sudden marriage to Ann raised a few eyebrows.

See also: eyebrow, raise, some

Win a few, lose a few.

Sometimes one succeeds, and sometimes one fails. Tom: Well, I lost out on that Wilson contract, but I got the Jones job. Sally: That's life. Win a few, lose a few. "Win a few, lose a few," said Fred, staring at yesterday's stock prices.

See also: lose, win

You win some, you lose some. and You win a few, you lose a few.

Prov. Cliché You cannot always succeed. (You can say this when you have not succeeded, to show that you are not discouraged.) Jill: I was sorry to hear that you didn't win your court case. Jane: Well, you win some, you lose some. Bill: I thought it was terrible that you didn't get a prize in the art contest. Bob: You win a few, you lose a few.

See also: lose, some, win

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be few and far between

to be very few There are plenty of houses for sale, but buyers are few and far between.

See hoist a few

See also: and, far

catch some rays  (informal) also catch a few rays (informal)

to lie or sit outside in the sun I thought I'd take my lunch outside and catch a few rays.

See also: catch, ray, some

have [a few/a lot etc.] irons in the fire

to have several jobs at the same time or to have several possibilities of work If that job application doesn't work out I've got a couple more irons in the fire.

See also: fire, have, iron, lot

hoist a few  (American informal)

to drink several glasses of beer or other alcoholic drink We stopped at Donovan's on the way home and hoisted a few.

See also: hoist

pull strings

to secretly use the influence that you have over important people in order to get something or to help someone I may be able to pull a few strings for you if you need the document urgently.

See also: pull, string

raise (a few) eyebrows

to shock or surprise people Anna's miniskirt raised eyebrows at the board meeting. The player's huge transfer fee raised a few eyebrows in the football world.

See also: eyebrow, raise

the chosen few

a small group of people who are treated differently or better than other people, often when they do not deserve it There's a special entrance with revolving doors for the chosen few in the company.

See also: chosen

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a few fries short of a Happy Meal

not very intelligent I could tell he was a few fries short of a Happy Meal, but unfortunately you can't arrest someone for being stupid.

Usage notes: this idiom appears in many different forms, including a few cards short of a full deck, a few bricks short of a full load, a few clowns short of a circus, and a few Cokes short of a six-pack, all with the same meaning

See also: happy, meal, short

a man of few words

a man who speaks only when necessary He was respected as a man of few words and significant actions.

See also: man, word

catch some rays (slang) also catch a few rays

to lie or sit outside in the sun This summer, there are plenty of festivals and outdoor concerts where you can catch some rays while enjoying the music.

See also: catch, ray, some

few and far between

not very many or not appearing very frequently He grew up at a time when jobs were few and far between.

See also: and, far

pull strings

to use your influence over important people in order to get something or to help someone I may be able to pull a few strings for you if you need the document urgently.

See also: pull, string

quite a few

a large number We watched quite a few of the World Cup matches on TV.

See also: quite

raise (some) eyebrows also raise a few eyebrows

to cause disapproval or worry The styles now favored by many teenagers have raised a few eyebrows among parents.

See also: eyebrow, raise