handful

/ˈhændfʊl/
noun
  1. The amount that can be held in one hand.
    • He picked up a handful of sand and let it trickle through his fingers.
    • The recipe calls for a handful of fresh parsley.
    • She grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl.
  2. A small number of people or things.
    • There were a handful of cookies left in the jar.
    • A handful of volunteers cleaned up the park after the festival.
    • Only a handful of students passed the difficult exam.
  3. A person or thing that is difficult to manage or control.
    • That puppy is a real handful — he chews everything in sight.
    • Her toddler can be a handful at the grocery store.
    • The new software update turned out to be a handful for the IT team.