英語

handful

gb/hˈændfˌʊl/ us/hˈændfˌʊl/
B1 英語
~ 5900
語義
0件の語義
名詞 B1 quantity
1

amount you can hold in one hand

An amount of something that is small enough to hold in one hand.

用法パターン: a handful of [something]
よくある間違い:
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]*.
類義語
fistful (Focuses more on the shape of the hand being closed in a fist; used less often in everyday speech.)
対義語
armful (Describes a much larger amount that can be carried in both arms, not just one hand.)
コロケーション
a handful of nuts |a handful of rice |a handful of sand |grab a handful |small handful |each handful
テーマ
daily life |food |daily_life |core_vocabulary
例文
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • 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.
名詞 B1 quantity
2

very small number or quantity

A very small number or amount of people or things.

用法パターン: a handful of [people/things]
よくある間違い:
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.
類義語
a few (Very common and slightly more general; does not carry the image of being able to hold them in one hand.)
対義語
a lot (Expresses a much larger number or quantity in everyday speech.)
コロケーション
a handful of people |a handful of students |a handful of countries |just a handful |only a handful |a tiny handful
テーマ
numbers |daily life |core_vocabulary |daily_life
例文
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • 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.
名詞 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.

用法パターン: [someone] is a handful
よくある間違い:
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.
類義語
troublemaker (Sounds more negative and suggests someone who causes trouble on purpose, while *a handful* is often softer or more affectionate.)
対義語
easygoing (Describes someone who is relaxed and easy to deal with, the opposite of a person who is a handful.)
コロケーション
be a handful |quite a handful |a real handful |little handful |prove a handful
テーマ
personality |relationships |daily_life |core_vocabulary
例文
  • 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.
学習者向け例文
  • 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.
文法
辞書形
handful
IPA
GB/hˈændfˌʊl/
US/hˈændfˌʊl/
音節・強勢
hand - ful (2音節)
Stress on 1st syllable (hand)
活用形
Noun
  • Base: handful
  • Plural: handfuls, handsful
関連語
Forms
handfuls noun handsful noun
Core family
hand noun A1 handy adjective B1
Related words
handle verb A2 handler noun B2 handily adverb
Advanced or less common
handiness noun
表現

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.

例文
  • 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.

例文
  • 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.

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