Learn English – Origin of “come in handy”

phrase-origin

Where did the phrase "to come in handy" originate, and what exactly does it mean?

My understanding is that it essentially means to be useful. Is this correct?

As far as origins, I have no idea. Etymonline did not seem to know, either.

Best Answer

Meaning

Etymonline.com says of handy:

Meaning "conveniently accessible" is from 1640s.

To come in handy means something will be handy or useful in the near future, that it will become handy.

Come in handy

The earliest verifiable examples I found in Google Books are both from 1843.

First, in a "Weekly Journal of Gardening" column of The Gardener and Practical Florist:

CELERY, as we always recommend in small gardens, should be planted out at various seasons, and if there be any left in the seed bed, another row will come in handy.

CELERY, as we always recommend in small gardens, should be planted out at various seasons, and if there be any left in the seed bed, another row will come in handy. Earth up that which is advancing. LETTUCES in the seed bed may be thinned, and those taken out may be planted.
July 15, 1843.

Second, in Tales of the Colonies, or, The Adventures of an Emigrant, Volume 2:

"What have we got here ? a pair of handcuffs ; ah ! these come in handy ; the bushranger won't want handcuffs any more, but they'll do for his mate."

"What have we got here ? a pair of handcuffs ; ah ! these come in handy ; the bushranger won't want handcuffs any more, but they'll do for his mate."

Come handy

We can also find some slightly early uses of the similar to come handy. It was once used similarly and as often to come in handy, but lately has become rarer.

come handy vs. come in handy

An October 1824 The London Magazine prints a letter from summer 1821:

the woman hopes the eggs wil come handy to the young mistris out of her confinement.

please your oner,
hoping your oner wont be displeasd at my boldness and I send a little basket of eggs-good fresh eggs-and they were lade by the little black hen that's three yeer ould come Michaelmas eve the day that I send home your oner's shute— and the times are very hard intirely — intirely — plase your oner from
your oner's sarvent to comand,
Timotheus Kinnealy.
the woman hopes the eggs wil come handy to the young mistris out of her confinement. — tuseday mornin.

Related Topic