When I was a kid, I needed clarification on these weasel words. My dad told me, a couple is two or three, but not one. One is always one. Four to six is a few, and seven or more is several, and you can remember that because several sounds like seven.

So, that’s always been it for me. If you ask me for a couple you’ll probably get two, but maybe three. You’ll get five or six if you ask for a few, and you’ll get seven if you ask for several. My dad an I were a lot alike.

Also, a “handful” is either five, because five fingers, of course, or however many I can grab with one hand, if it’s candy or something.