Dictionary

handsy en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈhæn(d)zi/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *handuz Proto-West Germanic *handu Old English hand Middle English hond English hand Old English -as Middle English -es English -s English hands Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English handsy From hands + -y.

Meanings

1. (informal) Prone to touching other people with one's hands, especially in an inappropriate or sexual manner.
   • "Listen up." Nate nodded at Angela's root beer. "That's what you should drink on your date with Patrick the Prick. So you'll be alert if he gets all handsy with you." "He won't get handsy. We're just having coffee." 2008, Lisa Plumley, Home for the Holidays, Zebra Books, →ISBN, page 96:
   • Her breakout was the 2017 production “Nate” (available as a Netflix special) in which she played a toxic, handsy bro who drove a motorcycle onstage, guzzling beers, groping audience members and creating chaos. 2025 October 7, Jason Zinoman, “What Clowns! (That’s a Compliment)”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Oct 2025:
   • J.D. (internal monologue): Okay J.D., you're a little drunk. And you know what happens when you get drunk. You get handsy. Now control yourself. Molly: It's tough making new friends in Milwaukee. J.D. (internal monologue): (feeling up own chest) I said control yourself! 2005 March 1, “My Best Laid Plans”, in Scrubs, season 4, episode 19, spoken by J.D. and Molly Clock (Zach Braff and Heather Graham):
   • A more pressing struggle is the one Crystal Castles have to contend with each night: feral fanboys who use Glass' aggressiveness as an excuse to get handsy. "They usually get a mic stand to the head," says Glass, with a shrug […]. 2008 September, Phoebe Reilly, “Thick As Thieves”, in Spin:
2. Moving the hands and wrists excessively when making a stroke or swing.
   • At a wiry 5 feet 9 inches and 140 pounds, with a handsy, almost ungainly swing, Pavin lacked the power and solid technique that have been the foundation of success for most of the game's elite players. 1991 May 26, Jaime Diaz, “Pavin Is Making a Strong Bid to Join Game's Elite”, in The New York Times:

Forms

Deriveds

handsiness

Synonyms

touchy-feely · groping · tactile

Translations (15)

hu fogdosós (prone to touching others) · hu tapogatós (prone to touching others) · de fummelnd (prone to touching others) · pt apalpador (prone to touching others) · sv tafsig (prone to touching others) · pl but see macać (prone to touching others) · fr qui a les mains baladeuses (prone to touching others) · hu tapizós (prone to touching others) · de befummelnd (prone to touching others) · sv närgången (prone to touching others) · pt bolinador (prone to touching others) · fi lääppivä (prone to touching others) · ru распускающий руки (prone to touching others) · de grapschend (prone to touching others) · fi käpälöivä (prone to touching others)