Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given phrase/idiom-
To come in handy
a) To be useful
b) To reach home tired
c) To stand very close
d) To come forward to help others

Answer 1

Hint: The phrases may have a literal or metaphorical meaning. Here, the given phrase ‘to come in handy' has a metaphorical meaning.

Complete answer:
Here, the meaning of the given phrase ‘to come in handy' is to ‘turn out to be useful'. If something comes in handy, it is useful in a particular situation. For example The key will come in handy if you lock yourself out. We have to find out the correct meaning of this phrase from the four given options.
Now, let us examine all the given options to find out the correct answer :
Option ‘a’ is To be useful. Useful is an adjective which means able to be used for a specific reason, in several ways. To be useful is to come into use.
Option ‘b’ is To reach home tired. It means to reach home in need of sleep or rest. This phrase is not relayed to the given phrase in any manner.
Option ‘c’ is To stand very close. It means that someone is standing next to someone else. This phrase is also not related to the given phrase.
Option ‘d’ is To come forward to help others. It means to lend a helping hand; to offer someone any sort of help or care. It is a volunteering act.
As we have analyzed all the given options, we can easily figure out the correct answer. Here, the correct meaning of the given phrase ‘to come in handy' is ‘to be useful'.So, the correct answer is “Option a”.

Note:
Don’t confuse between ‘to come forward to help others' and ‘to be useful’. They both have different meanings and cannot be used to say each other's place.