a couple of — a small number of; a few (typically two or three)
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a small number of; a few (typically two or three)
Pronunciation (IPA): /ə ˈkʌpəl ʌv/
Example Sentences
- I ate a couple of cookies and suddenly my diet plan disappeared faster than my cookies did.
- Can you wait a couple of minutes? I'm almost done with this report.
- I've been to Paris a couple of times, which makes me an expert on French culture according to my Instagram bio.
a couple of
NOUN[/ə ˈkʌpəl ʌv/]
a small number of; a few (typically two or three)
She grabbed a couple of apples from the basket before heading out.
Stop the double trouble, choose a couple!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase derives from 14th-century French 'couple', meaning 'two things bound together', ultimately from Latin 'copula' (connection, bond). Over time, the sense evolved from precisely 'two' to 'a small number of; a few', reflecting a semantic shift in English usage.
Breakdown
couple (from Latin copula, meaning 'to join' or 'bond') + of (possessive preposition) = 'a few of' or 'some of'. The noun 'couple' itself comprises co- (together) + Latin -uple (from apex, fold), originally denoting a pair joined together.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I ate a couple of cookies and suddenly my diet plan disappeared faster than my cookies did.”
“Can you wait a couple of minutes? I'm almost done with this report.”
“I've been to Paris a couple of times, which makes me an expert on French culture according to my Instagram bio.”
“There are a couple of issues we need to discuss before the meeting.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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