英语俚语天天说 第67期:一瓶不满半瓶晃荡的人jack of all trades and master of none
日期:2015-02-02 13:21

(单词翻译:单击)

半瓶水.jpg

释义:

Having suitable skill in multiple things, but not being an expert in any of them.了解很多事情,但是没有一件是擅长的;

来源:

The word 'jack' can refer to the common man. Jack指一个人。Thus, a 'jack of all trades' meant a man who is competant at many different skills. Jack of all trades指的是一个错才多艺的人。The first half of the phrase was being used in the 1600s, 这个词组的第一部分刚开始是在16世纪使用的,and was apparently spoken in a complimentary fashion when describing people. 是用来赞扬某人。

An early example comes from a book published in 1612, titled Essays and characters of a Prison and Prisoners. 这个词组比较早的来源是1612年标题是Essays and characters of a Prison and Prisoners 的书中。

From what I could find, it looks like it was somewhere around the 1800s when the expression developed a less praiseful meaning, as that was when the 'master of none' part was attached to it. 慢慢地从18世纪开始,随着master of none的加入,这个词组的意思就慢慢不再表示夸奖了。

举例:

1.He seems to know almost everything, no wonder he is referred to as a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

他似乎对所有的事情都知晓,难怪人们称他为万事通,但其实他样样不精。

2. I was planning on earning an associate's degree in numerous subjects, but my family suggested to not be jack of all trades and master of none, so I had to rethink my future plans with college.

我准备去拿许多科目的副学士学位,可是我家人建议我不要变得万事皆通,但一无所长的人,所以我准备重新思考下大学的学习计划。

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重点单词
  • multipleadj. 许多,多种多样的 n. 倍数,并联
  • suitableadj. 合适的,适宜的 adv. 合适地,恰当地
  • complimentaryadj. 问候的,称赞的,夸奖的,免费赠送的
  • phrasen. 短语,习语,个人风格,乐句 vt. 措词表达,将(
  • numerousadj. 为数众多的,许多
  • associaten. 同伴,伙伴,合伙人 n. 准学士学位获得者 vt.