useful

as useful as a chocolate teapot

Utterly useless or ineffectual (because pouring boiling water into a chocolate teapot would melt it). This umbrella is stuck inside out, so it's about as useful as a chocolate teapot right now. Until the power comes back on, all those microwaveable meals we got are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. This government subsidy scheme is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They are offering a $100 rebate for affected businesses, when most of them are going to be tens of thousands of dollars in the red.

See also: chocolate, teapot, useful

as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike

Utterly useless, ineffectual, or unnecessary. That umbrella is stuck inside out, so it's about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike now. I'm as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike when it comes to figuring out computer problems. This government subsidy scheme is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. They are offering a $100 rebate for affected businesses, when most of them are going to be tens of thousands of dollars in the red.

See also: an, ashtray, motorbike, on, useful

as useful as tits on a boar hog

vulgar slang Utterly ineffectual, worthless, or unnecessary. Primarily heard in Australia. This umbrella is stuck inside out, so it's about as useful as tits on a boar hog at the moment. I know next to nothing about computers, so I'd be about as useful as tits on a boar hog trying to figure out what's wrong with your laptop. Until the power comes back on, all those microwaveable meals we got are about as useful as tits on a boar hog.

See also: boar, hog, on, tit, useful

as useful as tits on a bull

vulgar slang Utterly ineffectual, worthless, or unnecessary. Primarily heard in Australia. This umbrella is stuck inside out, so it's about as useful as tits on a bull. I know next to nothing about computers, so I'd be about as useful as tits on a bull trying to figure out what's wrong with your laptop. Until the power comes back on, all those microwaveable meals we got are about as useful as tits on a bull.

See also: bull, on, tit, useful

as useful as tits on a nun

vulgar slang Utterly ineffectual, worthless, or unnecessary. Primarily heard in Australia. This umbrella is stuck inside out, so it's about as useful as tits on a nun at the moment. I know next to nothing about computers, so I'd be about as useful as tits on a nun trying to figure out what's wrong with your laptop. Until the power comes back on, all those microwaveable meals we got are about as useful as tits on a nun.

See also: nun, on, tit, useful

come in useful

To be especially helpful, often in a particular setting or situation. It was a lot colder out than I thought it would be, so your jacket really came in useful! That flashlight comes in useful when I'm trying to find something in my car at night. A: "Man, a nail file or a bobby pin would really come in useful right about now." B: "Right, like you could actually pick the lock!"

See also: come, useful

make (oneself) useful

To do something that is actively helpful or of assistance to others. You know, instead of just sitting there watching TV, you could make yourself useful and take out the garbage. Towards the end of the party, I decided to make myself useful and wash the dishes.

See also: make, useful

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

come in useful

to be useful. Your report has come in useful a number of times.

See also: come, useful

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ˌcome in ˈhandy/ˈuseful

(informal) be useful when needed: The money my aunt gave me will come in handy to pay for my music lessons.

See also: come, handy, useful

make yourself ˈuseful

help other people: Come on, Hannah. Make yourself useful and peel those potatoes for me.

See also: make, useful

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017