# come in handy

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/come-in-handy
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To prove to be useful or helpful.

## Examples

- Keep that map, it might come in handy later.
- I learned how to fix a leaky pipe last year, and that skill really came in handy when my sink broke yesterday.
- Although he initially dismissed the old manual as outdated, he soon realized the technical diagrams would come in handy during the complex repair process.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.