Definitely agree about the UK and US meanings being different, but I still think that the UK meaning in the absence of other information is usually 'moderately'. The trouble is that, at least in the examples I can think of offhand, it seems to be enormously sensitive to context. For example:
"I'm quite worried about my exams" = "I'm very worried about my exams", but only because the listener expects emotional descriptions to be understated. "I think that film is quite good" = "It brightened a dull afternoon but I wouldn't necessarily buy the DVD." "I think that film is quite good, actually" = "Say that about my favourite film again, why don't you?" "What do you think of the cake I made you, dear?" "Quite good." = Depends entirely on tone of voice; it may be a put-down of the 'least positive comment I can get away with' type. "You say that quite a lot, don't you?" = Row tactics on the order of 'you always...' and 'you never...'.
When were the school reports written, and for what sort of academic expectations? I'd honestly be surprised if I was the only person to have a scale going 'could do better' < 'competent' < 'quite good' < 'good' < 'excellent'.
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Date: 2008-10-24 02:15 pm (UTC)"I'm quite worried about my exams" = "I'm very worried about my exams", but only because the listener expects emotional descriptions to be understated.
"I think that film is quite good" = "It brightened a dull afternoon but I wouldn't necessarily buy the DVD."
"I think that film is quite good, actually" = "Say that about my favourite film again, why don't you?"
"What do you think of the cake I made you, dear?" "Quite good." = Depends entirely on tone of voice; it may be a put-down of the 'least positive comment I can get away with' type.
"You say that quite a lot, don't you?" = Row tactics on the order of 'you always...' and 'you never...'.
When were the school reports written, and for what sort of academic expectations? I'd honestly be surprised if I was the only person to have a scale going 'could do better' < 'competent' < 'quite good' < 'good' < 'excellent'.