quite a
fixed phr..fixed phr.. you use this to emphasize that someone or something is impressive, unusual, or more important than average.
fixed phr.. a predeterminer used to emphasize the degree or quality of a noun, often indicating that the referent is remarkable or significant in its category.
That was quite a meal you cooked.
It was quite a surprise to see my old school friend at the airport after ten years.
The young architect faced quite a challenge when she was asked to redesign the historic city center on a limited budget.
always precedes the indefinite article 'a' or 'an' and a noun or adjective-noun phrase.
contrast this with 'quite' as a simple adverb; 'quite a' functions as an intensifier for the entire noun phrase to show it is noteworthy.
a quite dayquite a day'quite' must come before the article 'a' in this emphatic construction.