Feifei Hello I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak.
Neil And hello, I’m Neil. Today Feifei, I’m going to teach you a piece of authentic English that describes me. Any guesses what it might be?
Feifei Hmmm… ‘Lazy-bones’?
Neil Ha! No, one that describes my many talents.
Feifei Err… ‘Full of yourself’?
Neil No Feifei – think about my skills – all the things I do in the office, for example.
Feifei Sorry Neil – I have no idea.
Neil It’s jack-of-all-trades.
Feifei But your name’s not Jack!
Neil It doesn’t have to be for this phrase. A jack-of-all-trades is someone who can do many kinds of jobs – you could say they’re multi-skilled.
Feifei Ok. Yes, I know this phrase but it just doesn’t describe you!
Neil Look, let me tell you what I can do, while we hear some more examples. OK?!
Examples If you need any work doing to your house, get my Dad round – he’s a jack-of-all-trades!
Jane’s got a great business – she runs a cafe where she makes and sells the cakes, she does the marketing and her own accounting – she really is a jack-of-all-trades.
Feifei So that’s jack-of-all-trades – a phrase that describes someone – a man or a woman – who can do many different types of work. We could call them an all-rounder. But sorry Neil – making the tea and presenting The English We Speak does not make you a jack-of-all-trades.
Neil So you think I am a jack-of-some-trades? Don’t forget I wrote this script, I can edit, I can make coffee as well as tea.
Feifei But some people say ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’ – which means you can do many things but you’re not an expert in any of them! A real jack-of-all-trades can do many different jobs – all to a good standard.
Neil Well… Right, well I’m off.
Feifei Where are you going?
Neil To find this guy Jack – to see if he really exists.
Feifei Oh dear. Bye!
Neil Bye.