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Original poster

Define "a few weeks"

73 replies

lolecky · 23/02/2023 17:42

If someone (who has been leading you round the houses for almost a year), says something will be done and you will be updated, "in a few weeks", what's the shortest time you can reasonably chase up?

I feel it was suitably vague for a reason Grin

(and AIBU for emailing dead on a fortnight)

OP posts:
Original poster
lolecky · 23/02/2023 18:04

I hate confrontation so in my mind now that they had voluntarily committed to solving the issue, it felt like a good time to take it to the council once they'd gone past their self appointed deadline.

DH had other ideas however....

OP posts:
BannMan · 23/02/2023 18:14

A few is more than a couple, so starting at more than 2 weeks
So I would say between 3-6 weeks

GoodChat · 23/02/2023 18:18

3 is a few but if they were intending on it being done less than a week from now they'd have been able to have given you a definitive date anyway.

I think DP has just saved you a weeks worth of waiting just to be disappointed anyway.

GiltEdges · 23/02/2023 18:27

zurala · 23/02/2023 17:58

3-4, is a few. 5-7 is several.

I agree.

2 = a couple
3-4 = a few
5+ = several

JudgeRinderonTinder · 23/02/2023 18:43

Around 3 weeks.

NoBoatsOnSunday · 23/02/2023 18:54

Agree with others

2 weeks - a couple of weeks
3/4 weeks - a few weeks

Anoisagusaris · 23/02/2023 18:56

POTC · 23/02/2023 17:45

3 weeks
2 is a couple, 4 is a month

Exactly this!

cassiatwenty · 23/02/2023 18:56

3

catfunk · 23/02/2023 18:57

3 for me

PaleBlueMoonlight · 23/02/2023 18:58

6 weeks might be "quite a few weeks"

HereIGoAgainAndAgainAndAgain · 23/02/2023 19:04

I wouldn't give 2 hoots what they said, I'd be ringing weekly and emailing a précis of the conversation back

honestlyno · 23/02/2023 19:07

For me a 'few' is a solid 3. It is not 4.

Mabelface · 23/02/2023 19:08

I'd be telling them that's just not good enough, and you want a full response within 14 days.

Lulu1919 · 23/02/2023 19:09

3 - 4 Max
Anything more would be a month or you'd say 6 weeks

NoBoatsOnSunday · 23/02/2023 19:10

HereIGoAgainAndAgainAndAgain · 23/02/2023 19:04

I wouldn't give 2 hoots what they said, I'd be ringing weekly and emailing a précis of the conversation back

Is that a couple of hoots or a few hoots?

UthredofBattenberg · 23/02/2023 19:11

Id say 3 weeks.

Two is a couple, 4 is going into months territory.

tatteddear · 23/02/2023 19:11

Between 2 and 4

Theunamedcat · 23/02/2023 19:12

Less than a month I would expect movement around the two weeks mark

Ludo19 · 23/02/2023 19:16

Coffeellama · 23/02/2023 17:56

2-3 weeks. 6 weeks is a month or so

This

BellaJuno · 23/02/2023 19:17

POTC · 23/02/2023 17:45

3 weeks
2 is a couple, 4 is a month

Spot on!

Okunevo · 23/02/2023 19:19

Between 21 and 30 days. Longer is a month.

Inkpotlover · 23/02/2023 19:20

Five. A couple is two, a few is three more.

Emmamoo89 · 23/02/2023 19:20

3-6

lljkk · 23/02/2023 19:27

Literally, few = 2-3, & week = 7 days.
Colloquially, "few" = up to 10.
But in context of having messed you about for a year, "few" = "maybe one day". How much hassle is it to you if this task never gets done?

I'd expect to escalate to next level in 15 days.

UsingChangeofName · 23/02/2023 19:28

"A few weeks" is definitely more than 5.
Less than that would be "within the next couple of weeks" or "In 2 - 3 weeks time"

However, if this is something ongoing for a year, then I wouldn't have accepted something so vague as a time limit.
I would have said "By the 22nd February" or something precise.