The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative handier, superlative handiest
Easy to use, useful. examples
Nearby, within reach. examples
Dexterous, skilful. (of a person) examples
(slang) Physically violent; tending to use one's fists. quotations
We had a sergeant who was a bit handy with the rougher elements. He dealt with them a little bit differently to what I do.
1974, William Purcell, British Police in a Changing Society, page 68
The Sloanes said he had nothing on them, that he threatened them, made up a lot of lies. Tried to attack them, got a bit handy.
2012, Tania Carver, Choked
Of a freight ship: having a small cargo capacity (less than 40,000 DWT); belonging to the handysize class. examples
plural handies or handsies
(childish) The hand. quotations examples
Clap, clap handies Mammie's wee, wee ain.
1916, Blanche Fisher Wright, The Real Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme Illustration
plural handies
(MLE, slang) A handgun. quotations
Look left and right, when I cross these roads,I don’t wanna get frightWe got handies and shotties,which one should you decide?
2020 July 9, C1 (lyrics and music), “Even Steven”, 1:51–1:57
(vulgar, slang) A hand job.
(mostly used by Germans) Synonym of mobile phone quotations examples
An important field of application for small rechargeable lithium ion batteries is that of the fast growing market of cellular phones or ‘handies’. 277,000,000 handies were sold worldwide in 1999.
2000, TELESCON 2000: The Third International Telecommunications Energy Special Conference, IEEE, section 9 (Look at the Market), page 127
“I’m afraid Mister Franklyn is occupied until seven o’clock. He shall call when he breaks. I’ll take a handy to receive calls—” […] The distance frees him to take phone calls on his handy.
2003, Regina Harris Baiocchi, Indigo Sound, Susaami Books, pages 79 and 82
Life was good and quiet until six weeks ago when he received a phone call on his handy from Unbekannt Nummer --Unknown Number.
2017, Sheldon Charles, From Within the Firebird’s Nest, Valkyrie Spirit Publishing