not a few vs quite a few

[hly2004]

Hi, everyone:

Could you please tell me the difference between "not a few" or "quite a few"?

Best wishes?

 

[verity17]

"quite a few" actually means the same as "quite a lot"
I don't know why, but that's how it's commonly used.
I've never heard anyone say "not a few" though.

 

[Thomas1]

Hi, everyone:

Could you please tell me the difference between "not a few" or "quite a few"?

Best wishes?

What's the context please?


Tom

 

[margo16]

Hly,do you know the widely spread expression:
I have quite a few friends=I have a lot of friends.

 

[hly2004]

Thank you all

I just want to find a phrase which modifies a noun and negate "few/not many" to express "many"
So I wonder if "not a few" is ok.

"Not a few people disagree".

From your posts, I guess "quite a few" means "quite a lot". Well, in this case, I just want to say "not a few" and thus not necessarily "quite a lot".

 

[verity17]

To me, "not a few" doesn't sound natural.
Maybe "more than a few?"

 

[hly2004]

Thanks, "more than a few" is great