jack-of-all-trades
Competent at everything
A jack-of-all-trades is someone competent at many different skills rather than specialized in one.
The term often carries a hint of superficiality—the full proverb runs "jack of all trades, master of none." But it can also be admiring: We need a jack-of-all-trades who can handle whatever comes up.
Plural: jacks-of-all-trades.
One with broad expertise
- all-rounderMulti-skilled person
- polymathMulti-domain expert
- factotumServant with varied duties
- multitalentedHaving diverse abilities
well-rounded · multifaceted · cross-trained · unspecialized · dabbler · dilettante · generalize · broad-spectrum
Cleverly original in design
- inventiveShowing original thought
- problem-solverOne who resolves difficulties
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- cleverShowing mental quickness
practical · adaptable · creative · improviser · quick-thinking · can-do · scrappy · enterprising
Able to bend freely
- versatileCapable in varied contexts
- adjustableAble to be changed
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- moldableCapable of being shaped
agile · chameleonic · pivoting · multitasking · shape-shifting · nimble
Amateur home projects
- repairRestore to working order
- fixRepair or solution
- tinkeringCasual, unskilled adjusting
- maintenancePreserving working condition
odd-jobs · handyperson · carpentry · plumbing · electrical · renovation · craftsmanship · mechanical
Lacking depth or substance
- shallowWithout much depth
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- mediocreOf only moderate quality
- amateurNonprofessional participant
dabbling · half-baked · dilettante · unspecialized · scattered · journeyman
generalist
One with broad expertise
- all-rounderMulti-skilled person
- polymathMulti-domain expert
- factotumServant with varied duties
multitalented · well-rounded · multifaceted · cross-trained · unspecialized · dabbler · dilettante · generalize · broad-spectrum
ingenious
Cleverly original in design
- inventiveShowing original thought
- problem-solverOne who resolves difficulties
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
clever · practical · adaptable · creative · improviser · quick-thinking · can-do · scrappy · enterprising · make-do
flexible
Able to bend freely
- versatileCapable in varied contexts
- adjustableAble to be changed
- resilientAble to recover quickly
moldable · agile · chameleonic · pivoting · multitasking · shape-shifting · nimble
DIY
Amateur home projects
maintenance · odd-jobs · handyperson · carpentry · plumbing · electrical · renovation · craftsmanship · mechanical · toolbox
superficial
Lacking depth or substance
amateur · dabbling · half-baked · dilettante · unspecialized · scattered · journeyman
- versatileversatile, well-rounded, multitalented, all-rounder, multifaceted
- generalistsgeneralist, all-rounder, polymath, renaissance woman, renaissance person
- versatile basicsSwiss Army knife, multi-tool, duct tape, utility knife, toolkit
- amateursamateur, hobbyist, nonprofessional, dabbler, novice
- non-expertsamateurs, beginners, novices, laypeople, non-experts
jack-of-all-tradesmaster
Authority or controller
past master · grandmaster · maestro · ace · virtuoso
trade, trader, trading, trademark, traded, jacks, trades, tradesman, jackhammer