Handy

Definition: Handy

Handy

Adjective

1. Easy to reach; "found a handy spot for the can opener".

2. Easy to use; "a handy gadget".

3. Skillful with the hands; "handy with an axe".

Noun

1. United States blues musician who transcribed and published traditional blues music (1873-1958).

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "handy" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1380. (references)

Note: Handy \Hand"y\, adjective. [Comparative Handier; superlative Handiest.]. (references)

Synonyms: Handy

Nearness

Adjective: near, nigh; close at hand, near at hand; close, neighboring; bordering upon, contiguous, adjacent, adjoining; proximate, proximal; at hand, handy; near the mark, near run; home, intimate.

Preparation

Prepared; Verb: in readiness; ready, ready to one's band, ready made, ready cut and dried: made to one's hand, handy, on the table; in gear; in working order,in working gear; snug; in practice.

Skill

Adjective: skillful, dexterous, adroit, expert, apt, handy, quick, deft, ready, gain; slick, smart; (active); proficient, good at, up to, at home in, master of, a good hand at, au fait, thoroughbred, masterly, crack, accomplished; conversant; (knowing).

Utility

Applicable, available, ready, handy, at hand, tangible; commodious, adaptable; of all work.

Crosswords: Handy

German (cellphone, cellular, cellular phone, mobile, mobile phone).

Better have smelling salts handy and a nip of brandy (Witness for the Prosecution; writing credit: Agatha Christie; Larry Marcus)

In a tight jam, a nuclear missile just might come in handy. (Radioactive Dreams; writing credit: Albert Pyun)

That comes in handy. (Payback; writing credit: Brian Helgeland)

No one knows who the Handy Outfits are (Thank You, Good Night; writing credit: Chris Provenzano; Robert Zimmer Jr.)

It might come in handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you. (Biohazard; writing credit: Christy Marx; Nick Sagan)

Hey babe, I'm your handy man (Handyman; performing artist: JAMES TAYLOR)

I'm handy with love and I'm no fool (Handyman; performing artist: JAMES TAYLOR)

I'm your handy man (Handyman; performing artist: JAMES TAYLOR)

The Mechanical Handy Man (1937)

Handy Andy (1934)

The Handy Man (1923)

Handy Andy (1921)

The Handy Man (1920)

HANDY MAN (performing artist: JAMES TAYLOR)

Handy Man (performing artist: Jimmy Jones)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• American Girls Handy Book: How to Amuse Yourself and Others (reference)

• Handy Andy's Weekend Workbook (reference)

• Handy at Home (reference)

• Handy Farm Devices and How to Make Them (reference)

• The American Boy's Handy Book (reference)

  (more book examples)

Periodicals

• HANDY, Handyman Club of America Magazine (reference)

  (more periodical examples)

High Tech

• HAKUBA USA INC Handy Pod Tripod (reference)

• HAKUBA USA INC KLVM-10S Handy View (Silver) (reference)

• INTERACT ACCESSORIES Handy Pak Advance (reference)

• Handy GPS Pro with Rand McNally Streetfinder Software (reference)

• Kantek SK100 Sidekick Handy Stick-up Organizer (reference)

  (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Consumer Goods

• Black & Decker HB300 Handy Blender (reference)

• Bil-Jax 0063-0435-44 Handy Roll Scaffolding (reference)

• Quick-Grip 570L3 Handy Clamp (reference)

  (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Pelicans and gulls relax on handy pilings. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General John W. Handy, presents actor Chuck Norris with the "Veteran of the Year" award at the American Veteran awards show Dec. 12 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (P.; photo by Lou Hernandez)..

The fisherman: Leaks pretty bad doesn't she? : Boater: Yeh, but it's kinda handy -- that, When ye haul ... Credit: Library of Congress.

When an overcoat comes in handy. Credit: Library of Congress.

50th Congress Ohio delegation / Brady & Handy Photo Wash D.C. Credit: Library of Congress.

Forest Carpenter, handy man. Eden Mills, Vermont. Credit: Library of Congress.

Interior of the home of FSA (Farm Security Administration) client Harry Handy. Scotland, Maryland. Credit: Library of Congress.

Mrs. Handy, FSA (Farm Security Administration) client, with vegetables she has just canned. Scotland, Maryland. Credit: Library of Congress.

The newly whitewashed home of FSA (Farm Security Administration) client Harry Handy. Scotland, Maryland. Credit: Library of Congress.

Portrait of William Christopher Handy. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Tools on the bottom, but handy to reach in case of a breakdown

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Consider carrying a water bottle with you so you always have some handy. (references)

Economic History

Netherlands

U.S. companies that offer innovative, handy, unusual and easy-to-use DIY products, preferably niche type products that are not on the market, may find excellent opportunities on the Dutch market. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Expressions using "handy": come in handy ♦ handy angle ♦ handy man ♦ handy tool ♦ handy woman ♦ it will come in handy ♦ keep handy ♦ keep smth. handy ♦ W. C. Handy ♦ William Christopher Handy. Additional references.

Beginning with "handy": Handy-dandy, handy-helped, handy-sized, handy-to-get-at.

Ending with "handy": ever-handy.

Afrikaans

geskikt (appropriate, becoming, convenient, of use, opportune, seemly, suitable). (various references)

Albanian

praktik (businesslike, commodious, down to earth, hardheaded, matter of fact, practical, pragmatic, usable), i volitshëm (convenient, expedient, practical, propitious), i përshtatshëm (adapt, adequate, adjustable, appropriate, becoming, befitting, canny, comely, competent, congruous, convenient, decent, desirable, done, due, elastic, eligible, expedient, fit, fitting, germane, likely, livable, liveable, opportune, Pat, proper, propitious, qualified, rated, relevant, seemly, suitable, suited, tenable, well-becoming, well-suited), i përdorshëm (available, expendable, practicable, practical, purposive, usable), i dobishëm (beneficent, beneficial, effective, good, helpful, instrumental, pay, profitable, salutary, serviceable, subservient, useful, wholesome), adapt (appropriate, becoming, convenient, opportune, seemly, suitable). (various references)

Arabic 

‏فى المتناول, ‏مستعد للعمل, ‏هين (cheap, cushy, easy, effortless, facile, light, royal, soft), ‏سهل الحصول (reachable), ‏عملي (active, businesslike, doable, earthy, feasible, functional, matter of fact, monetary, positive, practical, virtual, workable), ‏بارع (able, accomplished, adroit, artful, bright, brilliant, capable, clever, crafty, cunning, dexterous, dextrous, educated, fancy, fiend, foxy, handsome, ingenious, intelligent, masterful, masterly, neat, nice, pretty, skilful, skilled, skillful, smart, subtle, superior, sweet, very beautiful, witty, workmanlike, workmanly). (various references)

Bulgarian 

сръчен (able, adroit, agile, crafty, cunning, deft, dexterous, dextrous, feat, ingenious, knacky, knowing, light-handed, neat-handed, practised, pretty, skilful, skillful, smart, two-handed), удобен за управляване, удобен за манипулиране, който е наблизо, който е под ръка, ловък (able, adroit, agile, artful, dodgy, knacky, knowing, light fingered, natty, neat, neat-handed, peart, politic, pretty, shrewd, skilful, skillful, slick, swift-handed, tricksy, tricky, wary, whizbang), похватен (knowing, skilful), полезен (advantageous, beneficial, good, helpful, profitable, salutary, serviceable, useful, wholesome), подръка (arm in arm, around, at hand). (various references)

Chinese 

靈巧 , 順手 (convenient and easy to use, smoothly), 簡便 (simple and convenient), 得心应手, 便當 (convenient, easy), 便 (advantageous, cheap, convenient, easy, ordinary, plain, so, then, thus, to relieve oneself). (various references)

Czech

zruèný (adroit, dexterous, habile, knacky), užiteèný (beneficial, good, helpful, profitable, salutary, subservient, useful, valuable, worthwhile), praktický (businesslike, convenient, down to earth, hands-on, hard-headed, practical, realistic, workaday), po ruce, příhodný (appropriate, opportune, providential, timely), šikovný (astute, cunning, cute, deft, dexterous, ingenious, natty, nifty, skilled). (various references)

Danish

handy angle (handy angle). (various references)

Dutch

geschikt (appropriate, becoming, convenient, of use, opportune, seemly, suitable), doelmatig (convenient, opportune). (various references)

Esperanto

oportuna (convenient, opportune). (various references)

Faeroese

tespiligur (convenient, opportune), makligur (convenient, opportune), fýsiligur (convenient, opportune). (various references)

Farsi 

موجود (Available, Bound, Existent, Extant, Life, Present, Real, Stock, Thing), ماهر (Adept, Adroit, Cunning, Deft, Dexterous, Dextrous, Expert, Great, Industrious, Jimmy, Natty, Pert, Proficient, Skillful, Slick, Understanding, Workmanlike), چالاک (Adroit, Deft, Dexterous, Dextrous, Jimmy, Lissome, Natty, Nimble, Nippy, Pawky, Peppy, Prompt, Sprightly, Spry), چابک (Adroit, Agile, Brisk, Clever, Light, Lissome, Nimble, Perky, Quick, Rapid, Speedy, Spry, Swift), قابل استفاده (Available, Instrumental, Serviceable, Utilizable), سهل الاستعمال , سودمند (Available, Beneficial, Commodious, Good, Instrumental, Lucrative, Salubrious, Salutary, Serviceable, Useful), اماده (Able, Apt, Beforehand, Fresh, Lief, Present, Prompt, Provided, Ready, Stock, Yare), استاددرکارخود, روان (Cursive, Easy, Fluent, Ghost, Glib, Liquid, Psyche, Smooth, Spirit, Versatile, Voluble), دم دست (In, Jackleg), دستی (Handmade, Manual, Portable), بسهولت قابل استفاده , بادست انجام شده . (various references)

Finnish

helppokäyttöinen (easy to operate), taitava (able, adroit, clever, dexterous, expert, proficient, skilful, skilled, skillful), saatavissa (at hand, available, obtainable), näppärä (clever, deft, dexterous, ingenious), mukava (comfortable, convenient, nice, pleasant), käytännöllinen (practical), kätevä (clever with one's hands, deft, dexterous). (various references)

French

opportun, maniable, commode. (various references)

German

handlich (handily, manageable, manageably, maneuverable, natty), griffig (firm, pithy, terse, that grips well, that has a good grip). (various references)

Greek 

βολικόσ (accommodating, convenient), πρόχειροσ (extemporaneous, handily, improvised, makeshift, rough, sketchy), πρόχειρος (haphazard, makeshift, rough, sketchy), εύχρηστοσ (easy to use), εύχρηστος (manageable), εξυπηρετικόσ (helpful, serviceable, subservient), επιτήδειοσ (clever, crafty, cunning, deft, dexterous, dextrous, great at, shrewd, skilful, skillful, slick, slicker), ευχερήσ (fluently). (various references)

Hawaiian

adapt (appropriate, becoming, convenient, opportune, seemly, suitable). (various references)

Hebrew 

שמושי (functional, practical, serviceable, useful), נמצא (available, existing). (various references)

Hungarian

könnyen kezelhetõ (user friendly), kéznél levõ (ready), kéznél levő (ready), kényelmes (comfortable, comfy, commodious, convenient, cosh, cosy, cozy, cushy, easy going, leisured, leisurely, nonchalant), jártas (artful, cunning, expert, practiced, practised, proficient, versed), alkalmas (able, applicable, appropriate, apt, capable, competent, congenial, convenient, eligible, expedient, feasible, fit, fitting, friendly, of use, opportune, practical, qualified, right, suitable, susceptible, the ground plays well, timely), ügyes (able, adept, adroit, artful, clean, clever, crafted, cunning, dab, daedalian, deft, dexterous, dextrous, dodge, expeditious, expenditious, facile, feat, good, habile, ingenious, masterly, natty, nimble-fingered, politic, proficient, ready worker, skilful, skillful, skilly, slick, to know how many beans make five, versatile). (various references)

Indonesian

cepat tanggap, cekatan (adept, adroit, deft, nimble), campin (adept, clever, skillful), akas (skillful). (various references)

Italian

vicino (about, adjacent, by, close, convenient, early, forthcoming, near, near by, nearby, neighbor, neighboring, neighbour, neighbouring, next, nigh), utilitario (applicatory, convenient, practical, utilitarian), sottomano, manovrabile (maneuverable, manoeuvrable), maneggevole (manageable, maneuverable, manoeuvrable, wieldy), destro (able, adroit, agile, artful, clever, deft, Dexter, dexterous, dextrous, direct, off, proficient, right, right hand, righthand, skilful, skillful, straight), comodo (comfort, comfortable, comfy, convenience, convenient, cosiest, cosy, cozy, cushy, ease, easiness, easy, leisure, leisured, leisurely, snug), abile (able, adept, adroit, artful, capable, clever, cunning, deft, dexterous, dextrous, efficient, expert, facile, fit, knowing, masterful, masterly, proficient, skilful, skillful), a portata di mano. (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

調法 (convenient), 簡便 (simple and easy), 究竟 (appropriate, excellent, final, ideal, superb, ultimate), 器用　 (skillful), 器用 (skillful), ハンセン病 (employee of a messenger or delivery service, Hamburg, Hamburg steak, hamburger, hammer, hammock, hand, hand carrier, hand lotion, handbag, hand-ball, handbook, handcart, Handelsblatt, handicap, handicraft, hand-knit, handle, handler, handlift, handling, handmade, handout, handshake, handwork, handy mook, humble, hunt, hunter, hunter killer, hunting, hunting cap, Hunting World, leprosy, manual forklift, oscillatory behavior of a non-converging feedback loop, pallet jack, steering wheel), 手近 (familiar, near), 手頃 (moderate), 手ごろ (moderate), 便利　 (convenient, useful), 便利 (convenient, useful), 使い頃 . (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

ハンディー (handicap), ハンディ (handicap), くっきょう (appropriate, excellent, ideal, muscular, obstinate, robust, sturdy, superb), きよう (appointment, bulletin, memoirs, Nagasaki, promotion, skillful), べんり (convenient, management, useful), つかいごろ, かんべん (forbearance, forgiveness, pardon, simple and easy), てぢか (familiar, near), てごろ (moderate), ちょうほう (artillery funeral salute, convenience, convenient, intelligence, priceless treasure, secret information, usefulness). (various references)

Korean 

경편한. (various references)

Manx

ymmydoil (useful, valuable), lauee (dexterous, useful, versatile), jesh-laueagh (adept, adroit, ambidexterous, ambidextrous, deft, dexterous, slick), ec laue (to hand). (various references)

Norwegian

praktisk (practical), fingernem (dexterous), bekvem. (various references)

Pig Latin

andyhay.(various references)

Portuguese

habilidoso (artful, corndodger, dexterous, dextrous, dodger, hoe-cake, ingenious, knacky, skilful, skillful, slick, tactical, wieldy), propício (advantageous, auspicious, convenient, favourable, friendly, lucky, opportune, propitious, prosperous), destro com as m�os, conveniente (advisable, appropriate, becoming, beseeming, congenial, congruous, convenient, due, fitting, friendly, of use, opportune, proper, propitious, rightdown, seasonable, seemly, suitable, timely, well-timed, wieldy), capaz (able, adequate, capable, cunning, efficient, forcible, habile, of use, sufficient, suitable, useful, wieldy), cómodo (comfortable, convenient, cosy, cozy, opportune), cômodo (comfortable, convenient, opportune), acessível (accessible, approachable, available, easy, forthcoming, get-at-able, pervious). (various references)

Romanian

uşor de mânuit (manageable, tractable), dibaci (adroit, artful, clever, deft, dexterous, skilful, skilled, skillful, slick, sly, subtle, tricky), descurcãreţ (resourceful, shifty, skilful, skillful), comod (comfortable, comfortably, commodious, convenient, cosily, cosy, cozy, easy, easy going, easy-fitting, practical, roomy, serviceable, slothful, snug, suitable), care este la îndemânã, abil (adroit, apt, artful, artistic, artistical, astute, clean, clever, competent, crafty, cunning, deep, deft, dexterous, fit, industrious, knowing, natty, qualified, ready, resourceful, sharp, shifty, skilful, skilfully, skilled, skillful, skillfully, sly, smart, subtle, swift-handed, versatile), îndemânatic (adroit, adroitly, clever, deft, dexterous, dextrous, light-handed, natty, skilful, skillful, slick, subtle, tricky, workmanlike). (various references)

Russian 

удобный (carriageable, comfortable, comfy, commodious, convenient, cosy, easy, expedite, habitable, snug, usable), ловкий (adept, adroit, artful, clean, crafty, cunning, deft, dexterous, dextrous, dodgy, feat, habile, knacky, knowing, light fingered, light-handed, natty, neat, neat-handed, politic, sailorly, skilful, skillful, slick, swift-handed, tactical, tricky), легко управляемый (wieldly, wieldy), искусный (adroit, artful, daedal, deft, delicate, habile, hackish, ingenious, neat, neat-handed, proficient, skilful, skilled, underwater, well-made, workmanlike). (various references)

Scottish

innich (lovely, tidy), dluigheil. (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

vešt (able, accomplished, adept, adroit, artful, clever, cunning, daedal, deft, dexterous, habile, knacky, knowing, proficient, sciential, skilled, skillful, slick, subtle, tall), spretan (adroit, deft, dexterous, habile, neat-handed, nimble, skilled, wieldy). (various references)

Spanish

manuable (manageable), hábil (able, accomplished, adroit, capable, clever, cunning, deft, dexterous, experienced, expert, light-handed, masterly, neat, neat-handed, nifty, practised, proficient, shrewd, skilful, skilled, skillful, slick). (various references)

Swedish

händig (adroit, deft, dexterous, dextrous, wieldy). (various references)

Turkish

hazır (agreeable, at hand, available, content, cut and dried, disposed, finished, forthcoming, forward, game, go, in the mood for, in train, officinal, on, on hand, on one's mettle, on tap, operational, prepared, present, prompt, quick, reach-me-down, ready, ready made, readymade, ripe, snappy, stand by, up for, willing), yararlı (advantageous, beneficial, benign, benignant, efficacious, good, healthful, healthy, helpful, of use, profitable, salubrious, salutary, sanative, sanatory, subservient, useful, wholesome), yakın (adjacent, akin, akin to, approximate, at hand, by, close, close to, close-rage, connate, connected, connection, connexion, contiguous, convenient, familiar, hard, hard by, immediate, imminent, inseparable, intimate, near, near at hand, nigh, not far, pending, proximate, relative, thick, within reach, within walking distance), pratik (applied, businesslike, convenient, experience, practical, practice, praxis, rough and ready), kullanışlı (all purpose, available, convenient, flowing, functional, general purpose, manageable, operable, practicable, practical, purposive, serviceable, useful), işe yarayan, el altında (at hand). (various references)

Turkmen 

amatly (comfortable). (various references)

Ukrainian

спритний (adroit, agile, alert, arch, artful, canny, cunning, deft, dexterous, dodgy, fly, light fingered, light-handed, natty, nifty, nimble, nimble footed, nimble-fingered, pert, politic, practical, shuffling, slick, tactical, whipping, wide awake, zippy), вправний (able, accomplished, adroit, artful, canny, capable, clever, crafty, cunning, deft, good, jemmy, neat, neat-handed, nifty, practised, proficient), легко керований (manageable), портативний (carriageable, portable, portative). (various references)

Vietnamese 

vừa tầm tay dễ cầm, tiện tay, thuận tiện, dễ sử dụng khéo tay đến đúng lúc, đến vào lúc cần thiết. (various references)

Welsh

hylaw (convenient, dextrous). (various references)

Derivations

Words beginning with "handy": handyman, handymen, handyperson, handypersons. (additional references)

Words ending with "handy": shandy, unhandy. (additional references)

Words containing "handy": shandygaff, shandygaffs. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Handy" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: andy, Chaundy, Haddy, hadey, hadi, hadno, hady, Hadyn, Hajdu, haldyn, Hamdu, hamy, hanad, Hanadib, Hancy, handd, hande, handi, handie, handig, handly, hando, Handt, handys, Haniya, hanod, Hanry, hansy, hantu, hanty, hany, Harnby, haudy, heddy, hedy, Hendi, henvy, heny, hindy, hinty, hondy, honty, Huandi, Hunday, Hundio, Hunty, kandy, nandy, pandy, zandy. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

-1 letter: hand.

-2 letters: and, any, dah, day, had, hay, nah, nay, yah.

-3 letters: ad, ah, an, ay, ha, na, ya.

+1 letter: shandy.

+2 letters: handily, hydrant, unhandy.

+3 letters: dandyish, diaphony, endarchy, handyman, handymen, hydranth, hydrants, hyoidean, nonhardy.

+4 letters: anhydride, anhydrite, anhydrous, chandlery, dashingly, diachrony, dysphonia, hackneyed, hendiadys, husbandly, husbandry, hydrangea, hydranths, hydrating, hydration, hydrazine, hydrozoan, hypnoidal, nymphalid, unhandily.

+5 letters: adherently, anhydrides, anhydrites, chalcedony, chardonnay, dandyishly, disharmony, dysphonias, handsomely, holidaying, hydrangeas, hydrations, hydrazines, hydromancy, hydrophane, hydroplane, hydrozoans, hyphenated, nymphalids, shandygaff.