... didn't quite manage a full word.

[shootingstar]

When she'd spoken to him in the shop, he'd always sounded breezy, but now his voice contained something heavy. He scratched his brow. Made another sound but didn't quite manage a full word.

(The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, scene The Man at the Door)

What does "not quite" mean in this context. I take it to mean "hardly". Is that correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

It means he managed to utter part of a word but he didn't manage the whole word.

He didn't quite manage a full word = He almost managed a full word

 

[shootingstar]

Is the phrasing "someone doesn't quite manage a full word" colloquial and idiomatic or is it somewhat contrived and idiosyncratic?

 

[5jj]

It seemed natural enough to me.

 

[shootingstar]

It seemed natural enough to me.

Thank you, but why do you use the past tense "seemed"? Doesn't it seem natural enough to you now?

 

[5jj]

I had free choice between my reaction at the time of reading the question and how I react at the time of responding.