come in handy/useful

come in handy

To be especially useful, 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 handy! That flashlight comes in handy 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 handy right about now." B: "Right, like you could actually pick the lock!"

See also: come, handy

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

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

come in handy

[for something] to be useful. I think that this gadget will come in handy in the kitchen.

See also: come, handy

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.

come in handy

Be useful or convenient, as in This check will really come in handy. [Mid-1800s] Also see come in, def. 4.

See also: come, handy

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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

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