handler
gb/hˈændlɚ/ us/hˈændlɚ/
B2
English
~ 6700
kezelő, kutyavezető, rakodómunkás, sajtós, PR-menedzser, kommunikációs tanácsadó, eseménykezelő, kezelőfüggvény, tartótiszt, kapcsolattartó tiszt, irányító
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a [type] handler; a handler for [something]
The airline hired extra baggage handlers to cope with the holiday rush.
Az ünnepi roham miatt a légitársaság további poggyászkezelőket vett fel.
Each police dog and its handler must complete a strict training program.
Minden rendőrkutyának és kutyavezetőjének szigorú kiképzési programot kell teljesítenie.
Only trained animal handlers are allowed to work behind the scenes at the zoo.
The cash handler must follow strict security procedures at all times.
Farmers often rely on experienced livestock handlers during auctions.
Learner examples
The baggage handler put my suitcase on the plane.
A poggyászkezelő felrakta a bőröndömet a repülőre.
A dog handler walked three police dogs in the park.
Egy kutyavezető három rendőrkutyát sétáltatott a parkban.
Only the animal handler can touch the tiger.
The cash handler counts money all day.
The zoo pays handlers to care for the animals.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "handler" instead of "handle" as a verb, saying *"He will handler the bags"* instead of "He will handle the bags." Remember: "handler" is a noun (a person), and "handle" is the verb (the action).
Meaning
person managing things or animals
Collocations
baggage handler
|dog handler
|animal handler
|cash handler
|livestock handler
|airport handler
Synonyms
operator (suggests someone who uses or controls a machine or system rather than caring for animals.)
|
attendant (focuses more on looking after people or things, often in service jobs.)
|
caretaker (emphasizes looking after and protecting, especially animals or property, less about moving items.)
Antonyms
passenger (at an airport or station, the passenger is served, while the handler does the moving work.)
|
client (the client owns or uses the goods or animals; the handler works with them professionally.)
Themes
work
|daily life
|travel
|animals
Definition
A person whose job is to move, control, or take care of certain things or animals.
A person whose job is to move, control, or look after particular physical objects or animals.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s handler; a political handler for [someone]
The candidate’s handlers kept reporters away after the debate.
A vita után a jelölt sajtósai távol tartották az újságírókat.
Her media handler reviewed every question before the interview began.
A sajtósa minden kérdést átnézett, mielőtt az interjú elkezdődött.
According to staff, his political handlers decide which events he attends.
The actor’s handler quickly ended the press conference when the questions turned personal.
Handlers carefully controlled access to the star during the festival.
Learner examples
The singer’s handler told us we could not take photos.
Az énekes sajtósa közölte velünk, hogy nem fotózhatunk.
His political handler planned every part of the speech.
A politikai tanácsadója a beszéd minden részletét megtervezte.
Her media handler wrote answers for the interview.
The handler said the actor was too tired to talk.
Handlers kept the fans away from the movie star.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with a general "manager" in a company. A "handler" in this sense usually controls a public figure’s access, image, and communication, especially in politics, entertainment, or media, not a normal office team.
Meaning
manager of a public figure
Collocations
political handler
|media handler
|campaign handler
|press handler
|celebrity handler
Synonyms
manager (a broader term; can manage business, money, or career, not only public image and access.)
|
handler (often suggests tight control over access and messaging, sometimes with a slightly negative tone.)
|
fixer (informal; suggests someone who solves problems behind the scenes, sometimes in questionable ways.)
Antonyms
independent (a public figure described as independent is seen as acting without handlers controlling their behavior.)
Themes
politics
|media
|business
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A person who plans and controls what a famous person does and how other people see them.
A person who organizes, directs, and controls the public activities, image, and communication of another person, especially a politician or celebrity.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
an [event/error] handler for [something]
The click handler updates the user interface when the button is pressed.
A kattintáskezelő frissíti a felhasználói felületet, amikor megnyomják a gombot.
If the error handler fails, the application may crash.
Ha a hibakezelő nem működik, az alkalmazás összeomolhat.
You need to register an event handler for each type of notification.
The interrupt handler must be as fast and simple as possible.
A custom exception handler logs all runtime errors to the server.
Learner examples
The program calls an event handler when you press this key.
A program meghív egy eseménykezelőt, amikor megnyomod ezt a billentyűt.
Our app has a special error handler to show a friendly message.
Az alkalmazásunkban van egy külön hibakezelő, amely barátságos üzenetet jelenít meg.
We wrote a new handler to process login requests.
The click handler opens a new window on the screen.
Each signal has its own handler in the code.
Common mistake:
Some learners think a "handler" in programming is a person. In computing, a handler is a function or piece of code, not a human. Also, do not confuse it with a "handle", which can mean a reference or ID for a resource.
Meaning
software component for handling events
Collocations
event handler
|error handler
|exception handler
|interrupt handler
|request handler
|signal handler
Synonyms
callback (a common programming term; a function passed to be called later, often used as or by a handler.)
|
listener (emphasizes waiting for events; often used together with or instead of "handler" in event-driven programming.)
|
service routine (older or more formal technical term; focuses on serving a specific low-level event or interrupt.)
Antonyms
event source (the component that produces events, in contrast to the handler that reacts to them.)
Themes
technology
|computing
Definition
A piece of computer code that runs when a special event happens, like a click or an error, and deals with that event.
A function or routine in software that is designed to respond to and process a particular type of event, request, signal, or error.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s handler; a handler for [an informant]
The agent met her handler in a crowded café to pass on the documents.
Az ügynök egy zsúfolt kávézóban találkozott a tartótisztjével, hogy átadja a dokumentumokat.
According to the report, his handler ordered him to stop contacting the journalist.
A jelentés szerint a tartótisztje utasította, hogy ne keresse többé az újságírót.
Her FBI handler insisted that all meetings be recorded.
His handler provided a new identity and safe house after the mission.
Investigators are still trying to identify the foreign intelligence officer who acted as his handler.
Learner examples
The spy called his handler every week.
A kém minden héten felhívta a tartótisztjét.
Her handler told her to leave the country.
A tartótisztje azt mondta neki, hogy hagyja el az országot.
Police gave the informant’s handler a copy of the report.
The agent’s handler sent secret messages.
In the movie, the handler meets the spy at night.
Common mistake:
Learners may think a spy’s handler is the same as a "bodyguard". A bodyguard protects someone physically, while a handler gives orders, collects information, and manages the spy’s work.
Meaning
controller of a spy or informant
Collocations
intelligence handler
|CIA handler
|KGB handler
|police handler
|informant handler
Synonyms
controller (intelligence jargon; very close in meaning but less common in general speech.)
|
case officer (formal intelligence term for the officer managing human sources.)
Antonyms
asset (the spy or informant being run is the opposite role to the handler who controls them.)
Themes
security
|politics
|crime
|law
Definition
A person in a police or spy agency who gives orders to a spy or informant and watches what they do.
An intelligence or law-enforcement officer who directs, controls, and supervises the activities of a spy, asset, or informant.
NOUN
B2
5
irányító
B2
Usage pattern:
a handler on [team]; the main handler
She’s the most reliable handler on the team and rarely turns the disc over.
Ő a csapat legmegbízhatóbb irányítója, és ritkán adja el a korongot.
The coach wants a handler who can stay calm under pressure.
Az edző olyan irányítót szeretne, aki nyomás alatt is nyugodt tud maradni.
They added a more experienced handler to improve their offense.
As a handler, his job is to control the disc and direct the play.
The team struggled without their main handler in the final game.
Learner examples
In this sport, the handler throws the disc to other players.
Ebben a sportban az irányító dobja a korongot a többi játékosnak.
Our team has three handlers and four cutters.
A csapatunkban három irányító és négy befutó van.
He is a good handler because he does not drop the ball.
The coach asked the handler to slow down the game.
Without their best handler, the team lost the match.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is sport-specific and try to apply it to any player. In many sports, only certain roles are called handlers, especially in ultimate frisbee and sometimes in basketball talk.
Meaning
player who controls the ball/disc
Collocations
primary handler
|backfield handler
|ball handler
|disc handler
|handler line
Synonyms
playmaker (focuses on creating scoring chances, not only on controlling the ball.)
|
ball handler (standard sports term, usually as a compound; specifically about controlling the ball.)
Antonyms
cutter (in sports like ultimate frisbee, the cutter runs to receive passes, opposite to the handler who stays back with the disc.)
Themes
sports
|leisure
Definition
A player in a team game who usually holds the ball or disc and passes it to other players.
In some team sports, a player whose main role is to control the ball or disc and distribute it to teammates.
Grammar
Dictionary form
handler
IPA
GB/hˈændlɚ/
US/hˈændlɚ/
Syllables & stress
hand - ler (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: handler
- Plural: handlers
Word family
Forms
handlers
noun
Core family
handle
verb A2
handling
noun
Negative and opposite forms
mishandle
verb
mishandling
noun
Expressions
animal handler
1/ˈænəməl hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
person who manages animals
A person whose job is to move, control, and take care of animals, for example at a zoo, on a farm, or in a circus or film.
Examples
- Experienced animal handlers accompanied the film crew during the safari shoot.
- Only trained animal handlers are allowed to work with the big cats.
baggage handler
1/bˈæɡɪd͡ʒ hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
airport worker moving luggage
A person who works at an airport and moves bags on and off planes and around the airport.
Examples
- The airline blamed the delay on a shortage of baggage handlers.
- She worked as a baggage handler during the summer holidays.
dog handler
1/dˈɔɡ hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
person who controls working dogs
A person who works with dogs, training them, controlling them, and often showing them in competitions or using them for police or army work.
Examples
- The police dog handler demonstrated how the animals search for drugs.
- Only the dog handler was allowed inside the training area.
error handler
1/ˈɛɹɚ hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
code that deals with errors
A part of a computer program that runs when something goes wrong and then tries to fix the problem or show a message.
Examples
- The error handler displays a user-friendly message instead of crashing the app.
- A missing error handler caused the service to fail silently.
event handler
1/ɪvˈɛnt hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
software function responding to events
A piece of computer code that runs when something special happens, like a mouse click or a key press, and deals with that action.
Examples
- You need to attach an event handler to the button to make it respond to clicks.
- The event handler logs each user action to the database.
exception handler
1/ɪksˈɛpʃən hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
code that catches exceptions
Code in a program that runs when a special kind of error, called an exception, happens, and then deals with it.
Examples
- The exception handler writes the stack trace to a log file.
- Without a proper exception handler, the application will terminate unexpectedly.
media handler
1/mˈidiə hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
person controlling media access
A person who controls how and when someone, usually a famous or important person, talks to the press and other media.
Examples
- The star’s media handler ended the interview after only ten minutes.
- Her media handlers prepared a short statement for the press.
political handler
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl hˈændlɚ/
fixed phrase
person managing a politician
A person who plans and controls what a politician does in public, and how the public sees that politician.
Examples
- His political handlers limited his unscripted appearances.
- Reporters complained that her political handler blocked tough questions.