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What is a Jack of All Trades?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
A jack of all trades is someone who is capable of performing a variety of different types of work, although he or she may not be particularly skilled in any particular field. The term emerged in the 1600s as part of a larger phrase, “jack of all trades, master of none, though oftimes better than a master of one.” Depending on the usage, the term can be complementary or somewhat negative. The term is also sometimes used, albeit rather incorrectly, to describe a Renaissance man.
If you're curious to know more about the word origins behind the phrase, the use of the term “jack” to describe a common man dates from the mid 1300s. The name “Jack” has historically been very common, and it is also the root behind words associated with masculinity, like male animals and some tools.
There are a number of ways to think about a jack of all trades. People who think of the term as negative usually suggest that it implies that someone knows a little bit about a lot of things, but not enough to accomplish anything meaningful. On the other hand, one could also think of this person as an individual with many talents and skills; a contractor, for example, may bill him or herself as a jack of all trades, suggesting that he or she is capable of performing a wide range of tasks for clients.
Hiring a jack of all trades can be a sound decision for someone who needs several small tasks accomplished around the house. Rather than hiring a plumber, a construction worker, and a bricklayer, for example, a homeowner could hire one person to accomplish all three tasks. This is often more cost efficient, especially with small jobs that do not require a high level of skill. In this sense, this person might also be called an “odd job man.”
The meaning of a “jack of all trades” is slightly different than that of a “Renaissance man.” A Renaissance man or polymath is someone who is skilled in a variety of intellectual, rather than physical, pursuits. He may certainly also be talented physically, but the term is more commonly linked with people like Leonardo Da Vinci, who had a number of intellectual talents ranging from a keen scientific mind to an outstanding artistic ability.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a PublicPeople researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a PublicPeople researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
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![Leonardo da Vinci, who sculpted the statue depicting David during the Renaissance period, was also a painter and inventor.]()
By: Brad PictLeonardo da Vinci, who sculpted the statue depicting David during the Renaissance period, was also a painter and inventor.
Discussion Comments
@croydon - One of the things that's great about the internet is that it really makes all of us into potential jacks of all trades. Everyone has all that knowledge available to them all the time.
So, even if you've specialized in something very particular, you can still look other things up online. It's just a matter of knowing what it is that you don't know, and how to go about fixing that.
@Ana1234 - Really, I like the whole phrase better, even though I've never heard the whole thing before. Comparing a jack of all trades to a master of one seems like it would really depend on the person, but I think this world could use a lot more Jacks.
Encouraging all people to specialize in only a single field is one of the problems with the modern world. Someone who is excellent at business but doesn't understand science is going to make big mistakes when dealing with, say, the natural world. Someone who knows science but not the law could also run into obvious troubles even when they have the best of intentions.
@anon187725 - I've heard it used positively when someone says simply "he's a jack of all trades" but often when they add the second sentence it becomes negative. "Jack of all trades and master of none" kind of implies that someone has a shallow knowledge of a lot of things, but no in depth understanding of anything, and in this day and age there are so many experts around that it seems like you've got to have a degree in something to be taken seriously at it.
Some people might say that another word for a jack of all trades is fickle, since they haven't been able to settle on one profession.
Wow. I knew what a jack of all trades is, but not this much!
I didn't know this would be thought of as negatively but in a positive way. I consider my husband certainly in a positive way!
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