- Home
- Idioms
- quite
quite
have a pair
vulgar slang To act or behave in a strong, confident, and/or courageous manner. Though short for "have a pair of testicles/balls" (discretion should be used because of this), the phrase can be said by or of either a male or female. Often used with an intensifier, such as "quite a pair" or "a big pair." Primarily heard in US. Crime is really bad in this town, so you've got to have a big pair to be a police officer around here. Wow, your sister must have quite a pair to stand up to her boss like that!
be quite something
To be particularly noteworthy, remarkable, interesting, special, or impressive. Wow, this new car of yours is quite something! A: "I hope we get a chance to meet the band after the concert." B: "Yeah, now that would be quite something!"
be in a sticky situation
To be in the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward, embarrassing, precarious, or difficult situation or circumstance. I knew I was in a sticky situation when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the movies. I'll be in quite a sticky situation if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
in a sticky situation
In the midst of a particularly awkward, embarrassing, precarious, or difficult situation or circumstance. I found myself in a bit of a sticky situation when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the movies. I'll be in quite a sticky situation if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
batting on a sticky wicket
In the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. Refers to the pitch, called a "wicket," used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself batting on a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
on a sticky wicket
In the midst of or dealing with a particularly awkward or difficult situation or circumstance. (Refers to the pitch, called a "wicket," used in the game of cricket and the difficulty of playing on one after it has been wetted with rain.) Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I found myself on a bit of a sticky wicket when the boss saw me kissing his daughter at the cinema. I'll be batting on a sticky wicket if I arrive at the train station and don't have enough money for the tickets!
feel for
A better sense of (a situation or how to do something); a greater knowledge or experience in (something). Once I got a feel for the company's daily operations, I felt more comfortable taking on the management role.
not quite
Not exactly. A: "Are you promoting me?" B: "Not quite, but if you do well in this new position, I think you will get promoted in the future." I'm an A student, so of course I'm not quite pleased to get an A-!
*big as life (and twice as ugly)
and *large as life (and twice as ugly); bigger than life (and twice as ugly)Cliché a colorful way of saying that a person or a thing appeared, often surprisingly or dramatically, in a particular place. (*Also: as ~.) The little child just stood there as big as life and laughed very hard. I opened the door, and there was Tom as large as life. I came home and found this cat in my chair, as big as life and twice as ugly.
feel for someone
to feel the emotional pain that someone else is feeling; to empathize or sympathize with someone. I really feel for you. I'm so sorry it turned out this way. Fred felt for Dave, but there was nothing he could do for him.
*feel for something
a natural or learned ability to do something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) I will do better with this work as soon as I get a feel for it. He doesn't have a feel for this kind of careful work.
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.
quite a few
and quite a lot; quite a bit; quite a numbermuch 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.
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 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.
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.
quite a bit
a large number or amount She had quite a bit to say to him when he finally showed up.
quite a change
something very different Claudia's new school is quite a change from her old one.
feel for somebody
to experience sympathy for someone I know she's unhappy, and I feel for her.
quite a few
a large number We watched quite a few of the World Cup matches on TV.
quite a lot
(spoken) a large number or amount We've had quite a lot of rain this year.
quite a ways
(spoken) a long distance We're quite a ways from the Mexican border here.
quite a while
(spoken) a long time I hadn't seen Rebecca in quite a while, but she hadn't changed much.
big as life
Also, large as life. In person, as in And there was Mary, big as life, standing right in front of me. This phrase transfers the same size as in real life (life-size) to an actual appearance. Sometimes this term is embellished with and quite as natural, presumably alluding to a likeness of a person or thing that closely resembles the real thing. A similar addition is and twice as natural, which doesn't make sense. [Late 1800s]
2. Also, larger than life; big as all outdoors. On a grand scale, as in The soap opera could well be called a larger-than-life drama, or That friend of his was as big as all outdoors. This phrase can be used either literally, for larger than life-size (second example) or figuratively. The phrase all outdoors has been used to compare something or someone to an immensity since the early 1800s.
feel for
1. Grope, reach for with one's hands, as in It was pitch dark, and I felt for the doorknob. [Early 1700s]
2. feel for someone. Sympathize with or feel sorry for someone, as in Tom was so upset that I felt for him. This usage was put as feel with by Shakespeare: "It resounds as if it felt with Scotland" ( Macbeth, 4:3). Both senses of feel for are present in the somewhat sarcastic I feel for you but I can't quite reach you, meaning "Too bad, but I don't really feel sorry for you."
quite a bit
Also, quite a few; quite a lot. A considerable or moderate amount, as in There's still quite a bit of snow on the ground, or Quite a few parking spaces are open. [Second half of 1800s]
feel for
v. To sympathize or empathize with someone: I feel for the employees that were laid off.