handy

Formshandier, handiest

Pluralhandies

1. 1
   adjective

   Easy to use and helpful to have around.

   Like a pocket knife: small, but it helps in many situations.

   This little tool is handy for opening cans.

   A map is handy when you visit a new city.

   Similaruseful, convenient, helpful, practical

   Oppositeuseless, inconvenient, impractical

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Close by, or kept where you can reach it quickly.

   Keep your ticket handy because the conductor will check it soon.

   There was no store handy, so we packed our own lunch.

   Similarnearby, close, accessible, convenient, available

   Oppositeinaccessible, remote, distant

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Good at making or fixing things with your hands.

   My uncle is handy, so he fixed the leaky faucet himself.

   If you're handy with scissors, you can make these paper stars.

   Similarskillful, dexterous, adept, capable, deft

   Oppositeclumsy, inept, awkward

   Note
4. 4
   adjectiveslang

   Quick to hit people or get into fights.

   He gets handy after a few drinks, so we left the bar early.

   The referee sent off a player for getting handy during the match.

   Similarviolent, rough, physical

   Note
5. 5
   nounslangvulgarcountable

   A very rude slang word for touching someone's private parts with the hand for sexual pleasure.

   He bragged to his friends that she gave him a handy after the dance.

   She offered him a handy in the back seat of the car.

   Note
6. 6
   nounchildishcountable

   A hand: the part of your body at the end of your arm.

   Give me your handy so we can cross the street safely.

   The toddler clapped her handies when the music started.

   Similarhand

   Note
7. 7
   noundialectalMulticultural London Englishcountable

   A small gun that can be held and fired with one hand.

   The police found a handy hidden under the front seat.

   He bought a handy from a man behind the market.

   Similarhandgun, pistol, gun, piece

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable

   A cell phone: a phone you can carry with you.

   I forgot my handy at the hotel, so I couldn't call you.

   She charges her handy every night before bed.

   Similarmobile, cellphone, phone, smartphone

   Note
9. 9
   adjective

   Small for a cargo ship, able to carry less than 40,000 tons of goods.

   The company uses handy ships to carry grain to small ports.

   A handy ship is small enough to enter the old harbor.

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