useful
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(as) useful as a chocolate teapot
Utterly useless (because pouring boiling water into a chocolate teapot would melt it). That umbrella is stuck inside out, so it's about as useful as a chocolate teapot right now.
(as) useful as tits on a bull
vulgar slang Utterly ineffectual, worthless, or unnecessary. Primarily heard in Australia. Hey, thanks for the broken wrench—it's as useful as tits on a bull. I know next to nothing about computers, so I'd be useful as tits on a bull trying to figure out what's wrong with your laptop.
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.
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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
come in useful
to be useful. Your report has come in useful a number of times.
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.make yourself ˈuseful
help other people: Come on, Hannah. Make yourself useful and peel those potatoes for me.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017