Saturday, March 19, 2011

Leigh's Lingua #14 - "Handy"

If you think the word "handy" looks like "hand," you are pretty smart.  :-)

American English-speakers use "handy" as an adjective that means nearby (close to your hand!), or easy to work (easy).   People may say that the remote control of a television is "handy".  The remote control lets you sit and watch TV and movies without getting up.  You can just press a button from your chair -- that's easy!  (Except for me.  I like to get out of my chair.)

People may say that an extra bathroom for guests is "handy".  If you have two bathrooms, guests won't be trying to take a shower when you are trying to shave.

In Germany, a cell phone is called a "handy" now.  Actually, they are pretty handy, aren't they?

What do you keep near you -- so your hand can quickly reach it?  A salt-shaker on the table?  A box of kleenex by your bed?  What things also work easily for you, and so are "handy"?  Maybe phoning someone is easier than writing a letter. 

Sometimes being handy is good.  Sometimes, it just makes us lazy. 











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