come in handy

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Explanation of "Come in Handy"

Definition:
The phrase "come in handy" means to be useful or beneficial at a particular time or for a specific purpose. It suggests that something, like an item or a skill, is helpful when you need it.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: It is a phrasal verb.
• When to Use: Use "come in handy" when you want to talk about something that proves to be useful in a situation.

Examples:

1. "I always keep a flashlight in my car; it comes in handy during power outages."
2. "Her cooking skills really came in handy when we had to prepare a meal for the guests."

Advanced Usage:

• You can use "come in handy" in both formal and informal contexts. It works well in conversation, writing, and even in professional settings.

Word Variants:

• Handy (adjective): Something that is convenient or useful. For example, "This tool is very handy for fixing things around the house."
• Handiness (noun): The quality of being convenient or useful. For example, "The handiness of the app makes it popular among users."

Different Meanings:

While "come in handy" primarily means being useful, the individual words "come" and "handy" can have different meanings in other contexts: - Come: To arrive or to happen. - Handy: Close at hand or easy to use.

Synonyms:

• Be useful
• Be beneficial
• Be of help
• Be advantageous

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Come in useful": Similar to "come in handy," it means to be helpful in a situation.
• "Come to the rescue": To help someone in a difficult situation.
• "Come off": To succeed or be effective (though it's a different context).

Summary:

In summary, "come in handy" is a useful phrase to describe something that is beneficial or helpful when you need it.

Academic

Verb

1. be useful for a certain purpose