odd-job man
Definition
Noun: A person, typically a man, who is hired to perform a variety of small, miscellaneous, and often manual tasks. These tasks are usually temporary, unskilled, or semi-skilled in nature and do not constitute a single trade or profession.
Usage
The term "odd-job man" refers to a worker available for hire to handle assorted small jobs. It implies versatility and a willingness to take on various short-term tasks, often for different employers or homeowners.
Examples
- We hired an odd-job man to fix the fence, clean the gutters, and assemble the new furniture.
- The school employs a reliable odd-job man for general maintenance around the campus.
- He makes a living as an odd-job man, taking on whatever work comes his way in the neighborhood.
Advanced Usage
- The term can sometimes imply informal or cash-in-hand employment.
- In a business context, a similar role might be formally called a "handyman," "maintenance technician," or "general laborer," though "odd-job man" often has a more domestic or small-scale connotation.
Variants and Related Words
- Handyman (n): A person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. This is a very close synonym and is more commonly used in modern American English.
- Jack-of-all-trades (n): A person who can do many different types of work. This idiom emphasizes versatility and may or may not imply being hired for the work.
- Factotum (n): A person employed to do a wide variety of jobs. This is a more formal term.
Synonyms
- Handyman
- General laborer
- Maintenance man
- Mr. Fix-it (informal)
Antonyms
- Specialist
- Expert
- Tradesperson (e.g., licensed plumber, electrician)
Related Phrases
- Odd jobs (n): The miscellaneous small tasks themselves.
- He does odd jobs for a living.
- To odd-job (verb, informal): To work doing various small tasks.
- He odd-jobs around town.
Noun
-
a man skilled in various odd jobs and other small tasks
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