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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Jack of all trades
Jack of all trades
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Isabel L
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Jack of all trades
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Hello everybody,
I have a question for you, especially for native speakers. Is calling someone a jack of all trades complimentary or pejorative? Is this expression widely used? What do you call someone who is versatile and can do many things reasonably well? (OK, that �s three questions)
Have a great Sunday!! |
15 Mar 2009
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Greek Professor
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Hi Isabel..
Well according to...wikipedia...
"Jack of all trades, master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who is competent with many skills but is not outstanding in any particular one.
A Jack of all trades may also be a master of integration, as the individual knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring their disciplines together in a practical manner, and is not a specialist. Such a person is known as a polymath or a Renaissance man, and a typical example is someone like Leonardo da Vinci.
In 1612, the phrase appeared in �Essays and Characters of a Prison � by Geffray Mynshul and the phrase has been in use in the United States since 1721.[1]
The �jack of all trades � part of the phrase was in common use during the 1600s and was generally used as a term of praise. �Jack � in those days was a generic term for �man �. Later the �master of none � was added and the expression ceased to be very flattering. Today, the phrase used in its entirety generally describes a person whose knowledge, while covering a number of areas, is superficial in all of them, whilst when abreviated as simply �jack of all trades � is more ambigious and the user �s intention may vary, dependent on context.[2]
Adam Savage of MythBusters fame has suggested at a speech given at the hacker conference H.O.P.E. that the complete phrase is in fact "Jack of all trades, master of none, though often better than a master of one",[3] though there is no source to corroborate that the phrase was ever in common use in this form. |
15 Mar 2009
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gumby59
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According to my understanding of the phrase, it can be used to refer to someone in both a positive and negative sense. If you use it to refer to a person who is, as you say, is adept at a variety of things it could be used poitively. However, it could be used to refer to someone who is versatile but not particularly proficient at any single one thing. In that case it would be disparaging ( He is a jack of all trades but a master of none). Hope this helps. |
15 Mar 2009
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eng789
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It is a positive expression. Like he has good hands.
Like - He has a green thumb. - for people good with growing things. |
15 Mar 2009
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malouk
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It �s a positive expression - unless you say the whole "Jack of all trades, master of none" then it may not be too complimentary. |
15 Mar 2009
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Jayho
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I use it as a complimentary expression - someone who is multi-skilled. But yes, it can be used negatively in relation to someone who professes to be good at everything but really they are not a specialist, just someone with a broad range of skills. |
15 Mar 2009
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_babz
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Here in Canada,
it �s a good thing, you guys can call me a Jack of all trades anytime
;)
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15 Mar 2009
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libertybelle
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I also think it is positive. Like someone who can many things, a handy man or someone who plays many different instruments.
L
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15 Mar 2009
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dennismychina
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I tend to disagree. It would depend entirely under what circumstances it is used. The complete expression is, �Jack of all trades and master of none�.
So it could be either complementary or insulting, depending on how and when it�s used. |
15 Mar 2009
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dennismychina
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Wow! I was a bit slow with my response I see. Mmmmmm. Or did someone jump the queue? |
15 Mar 2009
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