Q

Q

[q] See: MIND ONE’S P’S AND Q’S.

[Q.T.] See: ON THE Q.T.

[qualms] See: HAVE (NO) QUALMS ABOUT.

[quantity] See: UNKNOWN QUANTITY.

[quarterback sneak]{n.} A football play in which the quarterback takes the ball from the center and dives straight ahead in an attempt to gain a very short distance. •/Johnson took the ball over on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown./

[queen] See: HOMECOMING QUEEN.

[queer fish]{n.} A strange or unusual person who does odd things. •/Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a queer fish./

[queer oneself]{v. phr.} To act in such a manner as to offend others and thus one’s own chances or position. •/Phil has queered himself with many girls by his erratic behavior./

[quest] See: IN SEARCH OF also IN QUEST OF.

[question] See: BEG THE QUESTION, BESIDE THE POINT or BESIDE THE QUESTION, BEYOND QUESTION also WITHOUT QUESTION, CALL IN QUESTION, IN QUESTION, INTO QUESTION, OUT OF THE QUESTION, POP THE QUESTION.

[quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.

[quick on the draw] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

[quick on the trigger] or [trigger happy] {adj. phr.} Ready to shoot without warning; fast with a gun. •/He’s a dangerous criminal quick on the trigger./ 2. {informal} Fast at answering questions or solving problems. •/In class discussions John is always quick on the trigger./

[quick on the uptake]{adj. phr.} Smart; intelligent. •/Eleanor is very witty and quick on the uptake./

[quick study]{n. phr.} One who acquires new skills and habits in record time. •/Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in her because she is a quick study./

[quit] See: CALL IT QUITS.

[quite a bit] See: QUITE A LITTLE.

[quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal} [not a few] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. •/Quite a few went to the game./ •/The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./?—?The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". •/Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night./?—?Sometimes used like an adverb. •/We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York./ Syn.: GOOD MANY, NOT A FEW. Compare: A FEW, A NUMBER.

[quite a little] or {informal} [quite a bit] also {formal} [not a little] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large amount; rather much; more than a little. •/We are not finished; quite a little is left to do./ •/Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work./?—?The phrase "quite a bit" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". •/Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming tonight./?—?Sometimes used like an adverb. •/Harry was sick quite a little last winter./ Compare: A LITTLE, A LOT, QUITE A PEW.

[quite a number] See: QUITE A FEW.

[quite the thing]{n. phr.} The socially proper thing to do. •/In polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note to one’s host or hostess after a dinner party./