do-all
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who performs a wide variety of tasks: "do-all" refers to an individual who is capable of handling many different duties, often in a versatile or all-purpose capacity, such as a general factotum or jack-of-all-trades.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the small office, she acted as the do-all, managing everything from filing to client calls. (She performed many different tasks in the office.)
- The handyman was known as the do-all of the neighbourhood, fixing plumbing, painting houses, and mowing lawns. (He was versatile and handled various jobs.)
Advanced Usage
"to be the do-all": to serve as the person responsible for all tasks in a particular setting.
- On the farm, the eldest son was the do-all, taking care of animals, crops, and repairs. (He managed all farm duties.)
"do-all" as a descriptive term: often used informally to emphasize versatility or overwork.
- She’s the office do-all, but she rarely gets credit for her efforts. (She handles many tasks without recognition.)
Variants and Related Words
Do-it-all (adj): capable of performing many functions.
- This do-it-all tool combines a hammer, screwdriver, and wrench. (The tool is multifunctional.)
Factotum (n): a person employed to do all kinds of work.
- He served as the household factotum, cooking, cleaning, and gardening. (He performed various domestic tasks.)
Synonyms
- Jack-of-all-trades: a person who can do many different types of work.
- Handyman: a person skilled at a wide range of repairs and maintenance tasks.
- Generalist: a person with competence in many fields.
Related Idioms
Do-all and end-all: a phrase meaning the most important or ultimate thing (derived from Shakespeare's "Macbeth").
- For him, winning the championship was the do-all and end-all of his career. (It was the ultimate goal.)
Jack of all trades, master of none: a saying that describes a do-all who may lack deep expertise in any one area.
- He’s a do-all, but he’s a jack of all trades, master of none. (He has broad but shallow skills.)