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Jack of all trades

 
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:00 pm    Post subject: Jack of all trades Reply with quote

Jack of all trades knows a lot about a little, and a little about a lot. Can I rephrase like:

Knows a lot about a little something, and knows a little about a lot of other things.

i.e., he knows two or three things in great detail, that is all.

Thanks.

bmo
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's pretty good, BMO. The only thing I would change is "a little something." I don't think you need both "a little" and "something." You can use either, but both together sounds a little odd.

By the way, I'm not so sure that a jack-of-all-trades knows a lot about something, but he certainly does know a little about a lot of things. It's usually not a negative thing to say about a person. For example, it'd be good to have a jack-of-all-trades as the super (superintendent) of an apartment building. He can fix most minor to moderate plumbing problems, electrical problems, boiler problems, etc.
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You said a lttle is equivalent to something, and a little something is odd. Do you mean something is not many, just a couple of things?

Also, my understanding of jack-of-all-trades is not a bad thing either, but I got this from a Taiwanese English Discussion website, so I should go back and tell them. I have heard "a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none," but this is still a compliment.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

bmo
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Man, English sure can be complicated! All I can say, BMO, is that in this particular sentence, "a little" and "something" would be roughly equivalent. "A little" is always "a little," of course. "Something" is probably "a little," but it is not as definite as "a little."

Sometimes "a little something" does work; I don't think it does in that sentence, but I can't explain why.

Ex.:

Gail: Are you hungry at all?
Rose: As a matter of fact, I am. I could go for a little something to eat.

I wasn't sure if you thought the term was negative, so that's why I said what I did. I would say, though, that when "master of none" is added, it does become more likely to be a negative thing to say. Often though, it would be a thing to comment about yourself when modestly reacting to a compliment.

Pete: I didn't know you knew anything about art.
Tony: Well you know... jack-of-all-trades and master of none!

Thanks, and you have a great weekend yourself!
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for a very clear explanation. Indeed the original post from a Taiwanese website does sound negative. I have since posted a correction.

Bud, do you know you and other teachers are helping not only us but also indirectly people in other countries who do not log on to this website?

bmo
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, that's cool! Thanks for telling us! Very Happy
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Blossom



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:30 am    Post subject: Jack of all trades Reply with quote

BMO. Why do you want to rephrase the original sentence?
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jack of all trades knows a lot about a little, and a little about a lot. Can I rephrase like:

Knows a lot about a little something, and knows a little about a lot of other things.

==================================
Someone at a Taiwanese site did not know the meaning of "a lot about a little," and "a little about a lot." He/she had the two reversed. I just confirmed what I have known all along.

bmo
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Blossom



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China

PostPosted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:53 pm    Post subject: BMO Reply with quote

BMO.

Who are you, and where are you from? Is it a dark secret? Why are you hiding ?

I do not think you should be posting when you are so secretive.
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RedRose



Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 2735
Location: GuangZhou, China

PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it Jack of all trades or Jack-of-all-trade?

Is Jack of all trades noun or adjective? thanks in advance!
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is written with the hyphens and without capitalization. Normally, it is used as a noun.
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