jack of all trades
One competent in many endeavours, sometimes regarded as not excelling in any of them.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He is a jack of all trades who fixes everything.”
“Because he can paint, garden, and repair cars, he is a true jack of all trades.”
“While he was a jack of all trades, he never mastered one specific skill, which limited his career growth in the competitive engineering firm.”
From jack (“typical man, fellow”) + of + all + trades.
- 01
carriage trade
Wealthy or upper-class people in general.
- 02
come from a Cracker Jack box
To obtain or retrieve something that is useless, cheap or fake.
- 03
jack in
To stop doing a regular activity, such as a job or studying.
- 04
jack of all trades, master of none
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
- 05
Jack Tar
Alternative letter-case form of jacktar.
- 06
jill of all trades
A woman competent in many endeavors rather than only one.
- 07
skin trade
The sex industry
- 08
take out in trade
To accept repayment of a debt in the goods or services in which the debtor deals, rather than in money.
Last updated August 10, 2026