2006-07-06 00:28:47 · 24 answers · asked by Nab 1 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
A handful is 5 - ie five fingers...
2006-07-06 04:33:37 · answer #1 · answered by Jackie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1, 2, 3, many.
handful is not so many.
When talking really small stuff it literally means a handful. A handful of people is more then 3 but not as much as you would expect.
Meaning: for a Superbowl game a handful of people would be a few 1000, for a birthday (mine) between 4 and 9.
2006-07-06 07:35:00 · answer #2 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 4
2006-07-06 07:30:49 · answer #3 · answered by steven_j_richards2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In ancient days, people were not literate enough to say 1,2,3,4,5... yet, were able to refer in terms of fingers. So, it must have started with reference to a bunch of about 5, when they say "about a handful"(of persons, stones, etc). In the later years, when numbers came in, the usage continued to be useful to refer to 'a little more than a fist full " as handful since a fist when closed holds a little less than an open palm in terms of quantity , but the number got replaced with quantity!
2006-07-06 07:56:33 · answer #4 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As many as you can fit in your hand. Depends on the size of the objects.
2006-07-06 07:32:41 · answer #5 · answered by Swede 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Handful
â noun (plural handfuls)
a quantity that fills the hand. a small number or amount.
informal a person who is difficult to deal with or control.
2006-07-06 07:37:58 · answer #6 · answered by treb67 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All depends on what you are picking up.
A handful of small ball bearings might be 200
a handful of cigarettes may be 5 or 10
A Handful of a ladies bosom - who knows !!!!
2006-07-06 07:37:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jeff J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
however many you can fit in your hand,lol!!
i would normally class a handfull as a few,coz its the idea that you couldn't fit very many in your hand,so thats probably where the saying came from!!
2006-07-06 07:32:13 · answer #8 · answered by geri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a hand that you cup, and fill up. or just 6 of something moderately sized. 1 for each finger and 1 for your palm
2006-07-06 07:32:48 · answer #9 · answered by Layla P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to many to be able to care for or handle with both hands...like your children or grandchildren can be a handful sometimes.. means you can not carry or take on much more...
2006-07-06 07:32:48 · answer #10 · answered by sanangel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋