The definition of "couple"

[utsavviradiya]

Although I initially learned that the word 'couple' meant only two items, I just recently discovered that it can also refer to two items of the same kind or even a few/several items. Is my inkling about it correct?

Example: In this video, the driver mentioned that she had consumed a couple of beers, but the officer questioned her by asking "How many is a couple?".

 

[5jj]

Right. In casual BrE, 'a couple' can mean 'not many'.

 

[stanislaw.masny]

Does that mean 2 but no more than 5?

 

[5jj]

It's unlikely to be more than five, but there are no fixed limits.

 

[utsavviradiya]

Right. In casual BrE, 'a couple' can mean 'not many'.

So, do you think the following dialogues mean the same?

Dialogue 1

Officer: How much have you had to drink tonight?
Driver: A few beers.

Dialogue 2

Officer: How much have you had to drink tonight?
Driver: A couple of beers.

 

[SoothingDave]

In this context (especially talking to police), "a couple of beers" could mean practically anything. The driver is attempting to minimize her consumption so the police do not suspect drunk driving. The police officer has heard this before, so asks for more specificity.

 

[jutfrank]

In this context, when she says 'a couple', she doesn't 'mean' three. She's deliberately trying to approximate the number in order to defend herself.

[cross-posted]

 

[utsavviradiya]

In this context (especially talking to police), "a couple of beers" could mean practically anything. The driver is attempting to minimize her consumption so the police do not suspect drunk driving. The police officer has heard this before, so asks for more specificity.

I'm confused about the varying definitions of the phrase 'a couple of' in different dictionaries. Some sources indicate that it means exactly two, while others suggest it could refer to a small quantity such as a few or several. I'm unsure how to interpret this inconsistency. For example, here.

 

[jutfrank]

Dialogue 1

Officer: How much have you had to drink tonight?
Driver: A few beers.

Dialogue 2

Officer: How much have you had to drink tonight?
Driver: A couple of beers.

The difference is that 'A few beers' is non-specific whereas 'A couple of beers' may be non-specific but it also may be specific.

 

[jutfrank]

I'm confused about the varying definitions of the phrase 'a couple of' in different dictionaries. Some sources indicate that it means exactly two, while others suggest it could refer to a small quantity such as a few or several. I'm unsure how to interpret this inconsistency.

They're both right. Sometimes it means exactly two and sometimes it means about two. It depends on the context.

 

[SoothingDave]

People who had 6 or 8 beers before driving don't tell the cops that. They say "I had a couple."

In the exact context you presented, the driver is likely lying. To be blunt. Using a convenient euphemism, to be not as blunt.