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Glite Dictionary
handsy

handsy

3 9.7
Likely to touch people too much in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable
  • adjective
  • /ˈhændzi/
  • Offensive
translation icon : manoseador
  • He always gets too handsy at parties, making everyone uncomfortable.
  • too handsy

Maximus starts to get a little handsy, isn't taking no for an answer.

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Examples

  • He's handsy.

    Spy (2015)

  • Maximus starts to get a little handsy, isn't taking no for an answer.

    cari can read

  • That Peter Francis is handsy with the models.

    Impurity (2015)

  • I mean, Joe Biden's too old, he's handsy with women.

  • I am not impressed with the trainers there; they are very feminine looking (when did that become popular for dudes?) and very handsy.

    Blog text (9)

  • When she tried to move away, he became even more handsy and wouldn't let her go.

  • It's inappropriate for him to be so handsy during meetings with clients.

Synonyms

touchy-feely
vshandsy
  • Informal
12 7.9

Openly showing too much emotion and physical closeness that makes others uncomfortable

focuses on unwanted physical touching rather than general emotional affection

Antonyms

distant
61 4.9

Not friendly or warm, behaving in a quiet, cold way

reserved
3.7

Not willing to show feelings or talk much

How Handsy

handsy
  • Offensive
3 9.7
touchy-feely
  • Informal
12 7.9

Surface Forms

handsy positive

Morphology

handsy = hand (transparent) = hand + sy

The adjective is directly formed from the noun 'hand' with an adjectival '-y' pattern (realised here as '-sy'), yielding 'inclined to use hands', which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

The word handsy comes from the simple word hand, meaning 'the part of your body at the end of your arm', plus the ending -sy that turns it into a describing word. So a handsy person is someone who uses their hands too much to touch people, often in a way that is 'unwelcome' or 'inappropriate'.