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Bethany
What does "quite a job" mean?
I've spent quite a job in the last five years.
Apr 3, 2014 1:19 PM
Answers · 5
5
Hi Bethany
In British English we don't usually say 'spend quite a job'. The word 'job' is related to its literal meaning of work, but more specifically refers to a difficult activity or a problem. The most common expressions are:
1) Raising 5 children, that's quite a job. Raising a large family is a lot of work, but it's also difficult.
2) It's quite a job to get into Tricky University. Getting into Tricky university might be a lot of work, but it is definitely difficult.
3) The traffic was horrendous this morning and It was quite a job getting to work. It may not have involved much work, sitting in traffic, but it was difficult/tiring.
Because it relates to 'difficulty' and 'problems', it is often used to convey admiration:
That's quite a job - your house looks fantastic!'
HTH
April 3, 2014
2
"quite a job" means "a lot of work"
April 3, 2014
leave the job
April 3, 2014
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Bethany
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), French, German
Learning Language
French, German
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