jack of all trades
jack of all trades (idiom)
/ˈdʒæk əv ɔl treɪdz/
The phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” describes a person with many skills, often implying they are not a true master in any one field.
Variants
- jack of all trades, master of none
- jill of all trades
Meaning
- Refers to a person skilled in many different kinds of work but not necessarily an expert in any one.
- Describes someone adaptable who can handle various tasks or roles as needed.
- Indicates a multi-talented individual with a wide range of abilities.
- Portrays a versatile worker who performs different jobs competently.
Synonyms: generalist; multitasker; factotum; all-rounder; polymath; versatile person.
Example Sentences
- As a jack of all trades, she fixes computers, paints walls, and bakes cakes for her family.
- The company values him because he’s a jack of all trades who can step into any role.
- Being a jack of all trades helped him survive when the team was short-staffed.
- Our neighbor is a jack of all trades and helps with everything from plumbing to gardening.
Origin and History
The phrase jack of all trades has deep historical roots stretching back to medieval England.
The name Jack was widely used in the Middle Ages as a generic term for an ordinary man or common fellow. This usage appears in John Gower’s Confessio Amantis (c. 1390):
“They seie, ‘A good felawe is Jacke’.”
During this time, many working-class men supplemented their modest income by taking on extra jobs outside their main trade.
The Elizabethan Era and William Shakespeare
The phrase gained sharper recognition in Elizabethan England, where it became associated with versatility in the theater world. In 1592, rival playwright Robert Greene attacked William Shakespeare in his pamphlet Greene’s Groatworth of Wit. He mocked Shakespeare as an “upstart crow” and labeled him a “Johannes fac totum”—Latin for John who does everything. This is the direct equivalent of jack of all trades. Greene’s barb implied that Shakespeare dabbled in many theatrical roles—acting, writing, producing—without being a master of any one.
A Common Term for a Versatile Worker
Outside of this personal attack, the phrase also has roots in the general English use of Jack as a generic name for a common man, servant, or laborer. Much like “Tom, Dick, or Harry,” Jack was shorthand for “any man.” A jack of all trades in everyday speech meant a worker capable of turning his hand to many tasks. In its earliest sense, the phrase could be complimentary, praising versatility rather than suggesting mediocrity.
Possible Link to Apprenticeships
Some historians suggest a connection to the medieval apprenticeship system. Apprentices often learned the basics of many different skills before specializing. Such a worker could be described as a “jack of all trades”—familiar with many tasks but not yet a master of one. This aligns with the idea of the phrase as a neutral or even positive description in its early use.
Earliest Printed Record
The earliest known printed record appears in Robert Greene’s 1592 pamphlet Greene’s Groatworth of Wit. Greene’s mocking use—via the Latin Johannes fac totum—is the first documented appearance of the phrase. Over time, the English translation jack of all trades entered popular speech, and by the 17th century, the addition “master of none” was being paired with it to emphasize a lack of specialization.
Country of Origin
The phrase originated in England in the late 16th century. Its literary connection to Shakespeare, combined with the generic English use of Jack and the Latin phrasing found in Greene’s pamphlet, firmly places its birth in English cultural and linguistic history.
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