handful
gb/hˈændfˌʊl/ us/hˈændfˌʊl/
B1
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
quantity
1
amount you can hold in one hand
An amount of something that is small enough to hold in one hand.
Usage pattern:
a handful of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *handful* without *of* when talking about this meaning, for example saying *I ate handful nuts* instead of *I ate a handful of nuts*. Remember to use *a handful of [something]*.
Synonyms
fistful (Focuses more on the shape of the hand being closed in a fist; used less often in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
armful (Describes a much larger amount that can be carried in both arms, not just one hand.)
Collocations
a handful of nuts
|a handful of rice
|a handful of sand
|grab a handful
|small handful
|each handful
Themes
daily life
|food
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He threw a handful of sand into the air.
- She ate a handful of nuts before dinner.
- Add a handful of fresh herbs to the sauce.
- The child picked up a handful of stones from the beach.
- Sprinkle a handful of cheese over the pasta.
Learner examples
- He took a handful of rice from the bowl.
- She gave the horse a handful of grass.
- I ate a handful of peanuts while I waited.
- The boy held a handful of snow in his hand.
Noun
B1
quantity
2
very small number or quantity
A very small number or amount of people or things.
Usage pattern:
a handful of [people/things]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this abstract meaning with the physical amount in sense 1. In this meaning, *handful* often talks about people or countable things, especially in phrases like *a handful of people* or *only a handful*. It does not always suggest a literal amount you can hold in your hand.
Synonyms
a few (Very common and slightly more general; does not carry the image of being able to hold them in one hand.)
Antonyms
a lot (Expresses a much larger number or quantity in everyday speech.)
Collocations
a handful of people
|a handful of students
|a handful of countries
|just a handful
|only a handful
|a tiny handful
Themes
numbers
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- Only a handful of people showed up to the meeting.
- A handful of companies control most of the market.
- He has just a handful of close friends.
- The project failed after only a handful of attempts.
- There are only a handful of tickets left for the concert.
Learner examples
- Only a handful of students passed the test.
- I have a handful of emails to answer.
- She speaks to only a handful of coworkers every day.
- A handful of shops stayed open during the storm.
Noun
B2
entity
3
person or animal hard to manage
A person or animal who is hard to control or look after because they are very active or cause problems.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a handful
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this always sounds very negative. In English, *a handful* can be negative, but it is also often used in a gentle or even affectionate way about a child, pet, or friend.
Synonyms
troublemaker (Sounds more negative and suggests someone who causes trouble on purpose, while *a handful* is often softer or more affectionate.)
Antonyms
easygoing (Describes someone who is relaxed and easy to deal with, the opposite of a person who is a handful.)
Collocations
be a handful
|quite a handful
|a real handful
|little handful
|prove a handful
Themes
personality
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Their three-year-old twins are a real handful.
- The new puppy is going to be a handful until it’s trained.
- He was quite a handful at school, always talking and moving around.
- The young striker was a handful for the defenders all night.
- She can be a handful when she doesn’t get enough sleep.
Learner examples
- My little brother is a handful for my parents.
- The dog is cute, but it is a handful.
- Their son was a handful in class today.
- Three small children can be a handful for one person.
Grammar
Dictionary form
handful
IPA
GB/hˈændfˌʊl/
US/hˈændfˌʊl/
Syllables & stress
hand - ful (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: handful
- Plural: handfuls, handsful
Word family
Expressions
a handful of
1/ə hˈændfˌʊl əv/
fixed phrase
a very small number or amount
Used before a noun to mean a very small number or amount of people or things.
Examples
- Only a handful of people knew the secret.
- We still need a handful of volunteers for Saturday.
- There are just a handful of cookies left in the box.
be a handful
1/bˈi ə hˈændfˌʊl/
idiom
be hard to control or handle
To be difficult to control, care for, or deal with, usually because you are very active or cause problems.
Examples
- The twins can be a handful when they get excited.
- This class is really a handful on Friday afternoons.
- That new puppy is going to be a handful for you.