Jack of all trades
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Someone skilled in many areas but not a master of any, versatile yet shallow.
Origin
From 16th-century England, 'Jack' as everyman paired with 'trades' for crafts-Robert Greene's 1592 pamphlet calls a writer a 'Jack of all trades. ' By 1612, it was a proverb, often with 'master of none' added later, as in an 18th-century play. It reflects Renaissance polymath ideals clashing with guild specialization, growing into a quip on useful mediocrity in a skilled age.
Variants
- Jack of trades
Usage Examples
- He's a Jack of all trades; fixes cars, cooks, paints.
- She's a Jack of all trades but struggles with details.
- Need a quick fix? Call our Jack of all trades!
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