[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/handy/)

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# handy

adjective (handy, handier, handiest)

«handy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Useful and easy to use. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#m1)
2. Near and easy to reach: «Keep a torch handy». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#m2)
3. Good at doing things with your hands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#m3)
4. «come in handy»: be useful later. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life: «a handy tip», «handy for the shops» (close by). In safety: keep a first-aid kit handy. «Come in handy» is very common in speech.

### Examples

- This pocket knife is really handy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x1)
- Keep your water bottle handy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x2)
- Our house is handy for the school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x3)
- Dad is handy with tools. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x4)
- Save the string — it might come in handy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x5)
- Here's a handy tip for long division. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x6)
- "I am not taking the hammer because I think there is something there," said he, "but it is handy for breaking the large lumps of coal." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/#x7)

### Note

Comparative: handier, handiest. Informal but widely used. «Handyman» = a person who does repairs.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «handy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«handy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/handy.html) on Mova free.