quite (redirected from quite the)

I'm having quite a time. 

1. Lit. I am having a very enjoyable time. John: Having fun? Jane: Oh, yes. I'm having quite a time. Bob: Do you like the seashore? Sally: Yes, I'm having quite a time.

2. Fig. I am having a very difficult time. Doctor: Well, what seems to be the problem? Mary: I'm having quite a time. It's my back. Doctor: Let's take a look at it. Father: How's school? Bill: Pretty tough. I'm having quite a time. Calculus is killing me.

See also: have, time

quite something

something very good or remarkable. You should see their new house. It's quite something. Meg's mother has bought a new hat for the wedding and it's quite something.

quite a something

definitely something; a good example of something. The captain of the swim team is quite a swimmer. That's quite a bruise you have there.

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: few

This doesn't quite suit me. and It doesn't quite suit me.

This is not quite what I want.; This does not please me. (Compare this with (It) suits me (fine).) Clerk: How do you like this one? Mary: It doesn't quite suit me. Bob: This doesn't quite suit me. Let me see something a little darker. Clerk: How's this? Bob: Better.

See also: suit, this

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quite a bit

a large number or amount She had quite a bit to say to him when he finally showed up.

See also: bit

quite a change

something very different Claudia's new school is quite a change from her old one.

See also: change

quite a few

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

See also: few

quite a lot (spoken)

a large number or amount We've had quite a lot of rain this year.

See also: lot

quite a ways (spoken)

a long distance We're quite a ways from the Mexican border here.

See also: ways

quite a while (spoken)

a long time I hadn't seen Rebecca in quite a while, but she hadn't changed much.