handy

Use the word "handy" to describe a person who is good at fixing things. You can also use this word to describe a useful object, such as a tool or a cooking utensil.

• Ted is very handy. He knows how to fix just about anything.
• A pocketknife can be very handy. It has knives and tools which you can carry around with you at all times.
• A cell phone is a handy gadget to own. In addition to using it for calls, you can use it to send text messages, browse the internet, find maps, take pictures, use it as a compass, or use it as an alarm clock.
• Gloria is a handy person to have around the office. She knows how everything works there.
• In our kitchen, we always keep a can opener handy because we’re always opening cans. (If something is handy, it’s quickly available.)
• We hired a handyman to fix some things around the house. ("Handyman" is a compound noun.)

He works as a handyman.

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This page was first published on June 5, 2012. It was updated on February 19, 2016.