Jack of all trades
Figure of speech
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Jack of all trades, master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who has dabbled in many skills, rather than gaining expertise by focusing on only one.
In older uses of the phrase, it was meant as a criticism of a person who tries their hand at too many things and perhaps does not do a good job at any of them. The expression eventually became dissociated from its pejorative use. In the 19th century, "a jack of all trades" was often used as a compliment for a person who is good at fixing things and has a good level of broad knowledge. They may be a master of integration: an individual who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring the disciplines together in a practical manner. This person is a generalist rather than a specialist. A jack of all trades that is highly skilled in many disciplines is known as a polymath.
The use of the phrase has been much debated online and has been the subject of much misconception. Some, like Gary Martin,[1] claim that the phrase had no negative connotations at its origins. However, Martin fails to show examples of it being used positively before the 1800s. Most records of its early use show that, contrary to the now-popular refutation, the phrase did in fact carry criticism until it was reclaimed as possible praise for a person's versatility.
Origins
The phrase "Jack of all trades" appears to have first been used in "Essays and Characters of a Prison" by Geffray Mynshul (Minshull),[2][3] published in 1618. It was probably based on the author's experience while he was imprisoned for debt in the King's Bench.[4]
In a description of the prison, the author gives a satirical profile of the porter that reads:[5]
"Now for the most part your Porter is either some broken Citizen, who hath plaid Iack [Jack] of all trades, some Pander, Broker or Hangman, that hath plaid the knaue [knave] with all men, and for the more certainty his Embleme is a red Beard, to which Sacke hath made his nose cousin German." (pp. 23-24)[5]
Later Additions
"Jack of all trades, master of none"
The "master of none" addition appears to have been added in the 18th century. Today, the full phrase generally describes a person whose knowledge is superficial because their attention has been dispersed into various directions, rather than specializing on a particular field. When abbreviated as simply "jack of all trades", the figure of speech is made amibigious and context-dependent. However, many often add "master of none" in jest to create an unflattering effect.[6] In the United States and Canada, the phrase has been in use since 1721.[7][8]