fistful
Definition
- Noun:
- A small quantity or number that can be held in a closed hand: Refers to an amount of a substance, typically loose or granular, that one can grasp in their fist.
- An informal measure indicating a handful, often implying a modest but sufficient amount: Used figuratively to describe a small, indefinite number of items or a small amount of something abstract.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- She added a fistful of fresh herbs to the soup.
- He won only a fistful of votes in the election.
- The child grabbed a fistful of sand from the beach.
Advanced Usage
"a fistful of dollars": A phrase popularized by film titles, used to denote a tangible but limited amount of money, often cash.
- The job paid just a fistful of dollars, but it was better than nothing.
Used for emphasis on a small, concentrated amount: Often implies the amount is all one can hold or manage at once.
- He was clutching a fistful of important documents.
Variants and Related Words
- Handful (n): A similar term meaning the amount a hand can hold; often used interchangeably, though "handful" can also mean a small, manageable number of people or things, or a person who is difficult to control.
- She took a handful of candies from the bowl.
Synonyms
- Handful: An amount that fills the hand.
- Grasp: The act of holding or the amount that can be held.
- Grip: A firm hold; the amount secured in a hand.
Related Phrases
- A fistful of [something]: A common collocation to specify the substance or item being held.
- a fistful of coins, a fistful of hair, a fistful of hope (figurative)
Noun
-
the quantity that can be held in the hand
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