Definition

1. Noun:
   • All-purpose knife: A knife designed for multiple general cutting tasks in the kitchen or workshop.
   • Jack-of-all-trades (figurative): A person who is competent in many different skills or areas.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tôi cần một con dao pha để cắt thịt và rau. (I need an all-purpose knife to cut meat and vegetables.)
  • Anh ấy thực sự là một con dao pha trong công ty. (He is truly a jack-of-all-trades in the company.)

Advanced Usage

• Used as a metaphor: The phrase "như con dao pha" (like an all-purpose knife) is a common simile to describe a versatile person or object.
  • Chiếc máy này nhỏ nhưng như con dao pha. (This machine is small but it's like an all-purpose knife [i.e., very versatile].)

Variants and Related Words

• Dao (noun): Knife.
• Đa năng (adjective): Multifunctional, versatile. (This is a concept related to the figurative meaning of 'dao pha').

Synonyms

• Dao đa dụng (noun): Multi-purpose knife (literal synonym).
• Người đa tài (noun phrase): A versatile/talented person (figurative synonym).
• Người biết nhiều nghề (noun phrase): A person who knows many trades (figurative synonym).

Related Idioms

• "Như con dao pha": (To be) like an all-purpose knife. This is the primary idiom, meaning to be versatile, adaptable, and useful in many situations.
  • Cô ấy làm được việc gì cũng tốt, đúng là như con dao pha. (She does every job well, she's really like an all-purpose knife.)

1. All-purpose knife
   • Anh ấy như con dao pha
     He is a jack-of-all-trades