Help me settle a silly bet!

[Jim O]

I'll tell you as soon as you can tell me what a "while" is.

My wife tells me it's between 30 minutes and a "few" hours.

 

[The BoidSmith]

It seems to always vary depending on tne total from which those "few" came from. For example, a few dozen pins, a few hundred people, etc. Nether of those are three or four. But remember, it's your wife, a few is whatever she says it is.

 

[Ginger Ambrose]

I would say.....it depends. If you say 1."You have a few too many snakes" as opposed to 2." I need to add a few more snakes to my collection"
1. This says I may have 2 too many (which is absolute hogwash).
2. This implys I should purchase as many as monetarly possible. 15 + (wishful thinking)
So a few is any where between 2-15.

 

[gmherps]

Greg's FEW: more than 3.

 

[Lucille]

Okay Lucille. Thanks for nothing....

Can you commit to one choice of either three or four?

That depends. Tell more about the origin of the bet, how did it come up? What's in it for you if you win? Did YOU go with three, or with four?

 

[crotalusadamanteus]

If it was one, it would be just one. A couple would be two.

Stands to reason a few would be 3............or more.

So a few beers meaning 6-12 is quite accurate actually. And according to Cliff, it only kills the slower weaker brain cells, so it makes us smarter. Sorta like the buffalo.


So, can ya tell I had a few? (meaning 3 in this case)


Merry Christmas everyone!
Rick

 

[CurtisF]

I once had a debate with a teacher on what a 'couple' is, fun stuff!

I'd have to go with 3 on that one. 4 is more in the couple territory for me.

 

[Art Klass]

That depends. Tell more about the origin of the bet, how did it come up? What's in it for you if you win? Did YOU go with three, or with four?

Well, that will put it all out there. Okay. We have been debating this one for about eight years now. The origin does not really come into play, because the word "few" itself is always used wrong by my wife, as far as I'm concerned. Keep in mind that this is something we have been laughing about for eight years.

If Amy wins the I have to play with her hair for 35 1/2 minutes and if I win then she will scratch my back for the same period of time.

I will not disclose whether I am the few is 3 or that it's 4. This keeps it totally unbiased. I will reveal the winner when it's over. We decided to give it 48 hours so there's still a day left.

So, how about it Lucille. Is it 3 or is it 4.

 

[Bill & Amy]

Why would a few just have to be 3 or 4? If you think a few = 3, why not just ask for 3? I think when someone says a "few" it is a general range and not an exact number. So I still stick with my original answer of 3-5.

My Dad and I always help each other with projects around each others houses. When he asks for a "few" screws, I take him 5. If he waa to say to me "I only wanted 3", you bet I would ask him "why didn't you just ask for 3 then?"

 

[SoulSmilen]

Why would a few just have to be 3 or 4? If you think a few = 3, why not just ask for 3? I think when someone says a "few" it is a general range and not an exact number. So I still stick with my original answer of 3-5.

My Dad and I always help each other with projects around each others houses. When he asks for a "few" screws, I take him 5. If he waa to say to me "I only wanted 3", you bet I would ask him "why didn't you just ask for 3 then?"

with the thought if not the range of 3-5; it still depends on the collective amount.

The word few in itself is collective and is not only 3 or 4; I still say the bet is a washout and both should pay up or neither should. There can be no winner with this one since there is no absolute.

 

[Lucille]

Well, that will put it all out there. Okay. We have been debating this one for about eight years now. The origin does not really come into play, because the word "few" itself is always used wrong by my wife, as far as I'm concerned. Keep in mind that this is something we have been laughing about for eight years.

If Amy wins the I have to play with her hair for 35 1/2 minutes and if I win then she will scratch my back for the same period of time.

I will not disclose whether I am the few is 3 or that it's 4. This keeps it totally unbiased. I will reveal the winner when it's over. We decided to give it 48 hours so there's still a day left.

So, how about it Lucille. Is it 3 or is it 4.

I think were I to have a bet about boas, or frogs, or all sorts of things, I would come here and ask. Were I to have a bet about the meaning of a word in the English language, I would probably write to the folks who publish the Oxford English Dictionary which traces words back to their inception.

 

[hhmoore]

If Amy wins the I have to play with her hair for 35 1/2 minutes and if I win then she will scratch my back for the same period of time.

I refer you back to my original response: you're both right = you both win. Hell, if you were any kind of husband, you would throw in scalp massage as a freebie, lol.

 

[Art Klass]

I think were I to have a bet about boas, or frogs, or all sorts of things, I would come here and ask. Were I to have a bet about the meaning of a word in the English language, I would probably write to the folks who publish the Oxford English Dictionary which traces words back to their inception.

It's just a silly game. It's not to be taken seriously. It doesn't matter who wins.

Hell, if you were any kind of husband, you would throw in scalp massage as a freebie, lol.

Trust me. She gets plenty of spoiling. I wake her up every morning with a different flavor of coffee brought to her in bed.

 

[Mike Greathouse]

Personally, I don't believe the answer is 3 or 4, but for the purpose of the bet, I'll cast my vote for 4.

 

[Lucille]

It's just a silly game. It's not to be taken seriously. It doesn't matter who wins.

I know, Art, I was just tossing that in for a bit of interest, OED is awesome.

Trust me. She gets plenty of spoiling. I wake her up every morning with a different flavor of coffee brought to her in bed.

Speaking of awesome, you are awesome. That is a terrific way to spoil someone, she is lucky to have you.

 

[Chameleon Company]

If Amy wins then I have to play with her hair for 35 1/2 minutes and if I win then she will scratch my back for the same period of time.

Win ? You get to leave her hair in knots and she gets your skin under her fingernails ? Me thinks you will call it a "draw" and split the pot

My own experience with the word is that the one who speaks it wants the listener to assume its a lower number like "3", usually saying or implying "just a few", but then can claim innocence when it turns out to be the higher end of the range "I told you a few".

"I bought a few things".

"I made a few changes".

"I invited a few friends over". I'll vote 4.

 

[garweft]

Me and my wife both believe that a few can only be 3. No more, no less.

2 is of course a couple, or a pair if you are talking about something you are purchasing. If you go to 4 you get into the group catergory. A few is not enough for a group, but is more than a couple or a pair. Therefore a few is equal to 3.

 

[Art Klass]

I refer you back to my original response: you're both right = you both win.

I agree with you, Harold. But it's no fun.

Speaking of awesome, you are awesome. That is a terrific way to spoil someone, she is lucky to have you.

Gosh, thanks.

My own experience with the word is that the one who speaks it wants the listener to assume its a lower number like "3", usually saying or implying "just a few", but then can claim innocence when it turns out to be the higher end of the range "I told you a few".

I like it. I'll have to tuck that one away.

 

[Art Klass]

It's been 48 hours! I tallied the votes and I have it at:
6 votes for a "few" is 3
4 votes for a "few" is 4

I counted only the clear votes. There were many who felt otherwise... and were right as well. Thanks to everyone who posted. We had a good time.

 

[Art Klass]

I won.