Sekirov Dictionary

handy

/ˈhæn.di/

adjective 5
noun 4
forms 3
phrases 1

adjective5

•
of real practical help and not difficult to use
- Some people regard duct tape as a handy fix-all.
•
Nearby, within reach.
- You wouldn’t have a screwdriver handy, would you?
- I keep a first-aid kit handy in case of emergency.
•
Dexterous, skilful. (of a person)
- She's very handy: she made all her own kitchen cupboards.
•
(slang) Physically violent; tending to use one's fists.
- We had a sergeant who was a bit handy with the rougher elements. He dealt with them a little bit differently to what I do. — 1974
Of a freight ship: having a small cargo capacity (less than 40,000 DWT); belonging to the handysize class.

noun4

(slang, vulgar) A hand job.
•
(mostly used by Germans) Synonym of mobile phone.
- An important field of application for small rechargeable lithium ion batteries is that of the fast growing market of cellular phones or ‘handies’. 277,000,000 handies were sold worldwide in 1999. — 2000
•
(slang) A handgun.
- Look left and right, when I cross these roads, I don’t wanna get fright We got handies and shotties, which one should you decide? — 2020
•
The hand.
- Clap, clap handies Mammie's wee, wee ain. — 1916

forms

handies · handier · handiest

Phrases with handy

come in handy
To prove to be useful or helpful.

This dictionary works without the internet: on your phone · in Chrome