Idiom
Jack of all trades
A jack of all trades is a person who can do many different kinds of work or tasks reasonably well.
How people use it
It can be praise or a gentle criticism, depending on context. "Our office manager is a jack of all trades" is a compliment: she can fix the printer, plan events and handle payroll. The longer form, "jack of all trades, master of none," adds a sting, suggesting the person is decent at many things but excellent at none. In job ads and cover letters, people use the short form to mean versatile. Despite the name, it is not limited to men; anyone can be a jack of all trades.
Also said: jack of all trades, master of none, jack-of-all-trades.
Examples
- My grandfather was a jack of all trades who could fix a roof, bake bread and tune a piano.
- Small startups often need a jack of all trades rather than a narrow specialist.
- Grace calls herself a jack of all trades, master of none, but her paintings say otherwise.
Where it comes from
"Jack" was once a name used for any ordinary working man, which is also why it turns up in words like lumberjack. In the early 1600s, "Jack of all trades" described a handy person who did all sorts of jobs, often with approval. The "master of none" part was added later, in the 1700s, and gave the phrase its more critical edge. A Latin-style version, "Johannes factotum," appears in a 1592 pamphlet usually read as a jab at the young Shakespeare.
Check yourself
1. What does it mean to call your neighbor a jack of all trades?
Answer: He can do many different jobs fairly well. A jack of all trades is someone with many practical skills rather than one specialty.
2. What does adding "master of none" do to the phrase?
Answer: It suggests the person is not excellent at any one thing. Master of none adds a mild criticism: many skills, but no deep expertise.
Word game fan? See every word hiding in JACK.