The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - handy adj.

1) nearby, accessible, available, at or on or to hand, close (by) , convenient, at one's fingertips, within (easy) reach, (at the) ready: Because of the recent break-ins, she keeps a pistol handy. 2) usable, serviceable, manoeuvrable, clever, useful, helpful, practical: A pair of pliers and a screwdriver are the handiest tools. 3) deft, clever, dexterous, adroit, adept, skilled, skilful, proficient, expert: Aunt Sara is very handy with a needle and thread.