A couple

[Gemini]

When having a family meal recently we realised that some of us ( me included) use the term couple to mean a few. Others feel it strictly means two.

If I say a couple I mean 2, 3, maybe 4. I have always used it like that. 2 of my DDs do the same, and I know my mum did.
The other, and my OH say a couple is only 2. as in married couple.
I accept of course that a couple in that sense refers to 2, but in more general terms it's less precise to me.

It it only us??
What do you mean when you say a couple to describe a number of things?

[Daisy]

Gem, I think it depends on the context. If I say, for example "the couple next door" I mean two people, but if I use it in the sense of "a few" or "some" it can mean pretty much any low number depending on the situation. So "a couple of days ago" could be 2, 3,4, up to a week ago. We won't go in to the meaning of a "couple of glasses of wine".

[Nanto2girls]

If i say a couple, i mean 2, whatever the context is.

[Gemini]

Daisy, I'm glad I'm not the only one

[Oma]

A couple of days ago could actually mean weeks or days ,
If I say we are have a couple of people round, again it could be two or a group , the same as a few that could be a huge crowd.
I think we all have our own way and nothing is right or wrong in my option 😊

[Gemini]

Quite right Oma