handy

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.
See also: come, handy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

come in handy

[for something] to be useful. I think that this gadget will come in handy in the kitchen.
See also: come, handy
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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.

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
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • come in handy
  • come in handy/useful
  • come in useful
  • pay dirt
  • nugget
  • nugget of information
  • colder than a witch's tit
  • colder
  • colder than the shady side of a banker's heart
  • shady
References in periodicals archive
Among the solutions provided by Novosoft is the NERPA EAM/EPR system, the Handy Backup automated backup software, the ASOMI metrological software solution (now a part of NERPA) and some other tools bringing the Novosoft production growing popularity among companies and individual users throughout the world.
The federal lawsuit was against the county, former county administrator Liane Richardson, and Bozievich, Stewart and Leiken, accusing them of violating Handy's free speech rights by meeting illegally to decide to release the complaint letter to the public and subsequently locking him out of his county office.
After the examination, he told Mrs Handy she was suffering from constipation and prescribed her paracetamol and laxatives.
As Mrs Handy kept drifting in and out of consciousness, Mr Handy called his mother, Vivienne, who lived next door, and an ambulance.
To expand operations, Handy has formed partnerships with other companies.
Handyman services aren't all that Handy Guy offers the Des Moines, Iowa area.
Handy was never able to see beyond the political dimensions of these events - the initial lawsuit filed by hostile parties, the release of his begging letter by colleagues on the opposite side of the political fence and the timing of it all.
The definitive agreement was unanimously approved by a special committee of the board of directors of Handy and Harman, consisting solely of independent directors, as well as the boards of directors of each of Handy and Harman and the general partner of Steel Partners.
The Special Committee of the company's board of directors, which was authorized to evaluate the initial Handy & Harman proposal, will review and consider the revised proposal carefully in due course, consistent with its fiduciary duties to act in the best interest of stockholders.
"H5 is excited to welcome Handy Networks to our Denver data center ecosystem," said Josh Simms, chief executive officer at H5 Data Centers.
Handy Hardware was founded in 1961 in Houston and serves about 1,000 retailers across nine states.
With the 2013 tournament being played on the Lee Westwood Filly Course at Close House a week on Sunday, who is to say Chris Handy - son of James - will not keep up the family tradition?
PEPPA FANS This bright and cheery Peppa Pig bag with picnic design from Brantano, PS10, will come in handy for day trips and outings.
BOSTON - Winthrop Handy, running as an independent for state representative in the 14th Worcester District, has run into some problems trying to get on the ballot.
NAND flash memory prices are expected to decline by half by the end of the year, from 70 cents a GB to 35 cents, keeping with historical price declines, said Jim Handy, chief analyst at market research firm Objective Analysis.