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duizendpoot

English translation: jack of all trades

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:duizendpoot
English translation:jack of all trades
Entered by: Ruchira Raychaudhuri

12:15 Jan 11, 2009
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: duizendpoot
"Kortom de duizendpoot in onze organisatie"

This is from a text from Belgium. I'm looking for a creative translation for 'duizendpoot', used in a positive sense. 'Jack-of-all-trades' is a bit negative and 'man friday' seems to describe someone who is merely a general dogsbody. In the text, the person referred to is competently managing multiple tasks and functions.

Any suggestions welcome! TIA!
Ruchira Raychaudhuri
Belgium
Local time: 07:44
jack of all trades
Explanation:
de Van Dale geeft de volgende context:
deze clown is een muzikale duizendpoot
this clown is a musical jack-of-all-trades

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2009-01-11 12:24:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

factotum is another suggestion, concise oxford lists reads: an employee who does all kinds of work, 'master of everything'.
Selected response from:

Katja van Hellemond
Portugal
Local time: 06:44
Grading comment
Thanks for all the suggestions..I took this one eventually.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8jack of all trades
Katja van Hellemond
3 +3all-rounder
L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
3multi-tasker
Kalyani Jog


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
multi-tasker


Explanation:
-

Kalyani Jog
Local time: 07:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in MarathiMarathi

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  jarry (X): Multi-tasking means dealing with more than one task at the same time. To Wessel: Your 'agree' to 'multi-tasking' seems to be somewhat contradictory, bearing in mind your own suggested answer.
6 hrs
agree  L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen: So Jarry, is this not what the man does? He handles It systems, is a project co-ordiantor and a small agency. He is obviously a very good manager too!
6 hrs
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
jack of all trades


Explanation:
de Van Dale geeft de volgende context:
deze clown is een muzikale duizendpoot
this clown is a musical jack-of-all-trades

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2009-01-11 12:24:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

factotum is another suggestion, concise oxford lists reads: an employee who does all kinds of work, 'master of everything'.

Katja van Hellemond
Portugal
Local time: 06:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 7
Grading comment
Thanks for all the suggestions..I took this one eventually.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  jarry (X)
2 hrs
  -> thanks jarry
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): There is nothing negative about jack of all trades.
3 hrs
  -> thanks tina
agree  Lianne van de Ven
3 hrs
  -> thanks lianne
agree  Anja Thys
4 hrs
  -> bedankt anja
agree  Kitty Brussaard: This term seems to be rather commonly used in job descriptions/advertisements to refer to someone who is multi-skilled/multi-talented :-)
9 hrs
  -> thanks kitty
agree  Neil Cross
11 hrs
  -> thanks neil
agree  vic voskuil
12 hrs
  -> bedankt vic
agree  LouisV (X)
17 hrs
  -> bedankt louis
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
all-rounder


Explanation:
A person who fits everywhere...

L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
Local time: 07:44
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 15

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Christopher Smith (X): Of the suggestions so far, I like this the best
9 mins
  -> Thanks.
agree  Saskia Steur (X): and with Christopher
10 mins
  -> Dank je wel
disagree  jarry (X): Given the additional information provided I have to disagree with this answer. An all-rounder is used in sport (such as in cricket). IT is not a trade? Have a look here: http://www.zibb.com/publicsvc/theme/p/Information Technology...
1 hr
  -> You should also disagree with a jack of all trade as IT is not a trade!
neutral  Lianne van de Ven: I think of an all-rounder as broad and good but within one field, while the duizendpoot is typically good & handy at different things
2 hrs
agree  Kitty Brussaard: Is used in job descriptions/advertisements to refer to a versatile and multi-skilled/multi-talented person, as in 'office all-rounder'. / 'Jack of all trades' is another option, also for 'white collar' jobs (cf. Google) :-)
9 hrs
  -> Bedankt Kitty. Jack of all trades is 'n beschrijving voor iemand die heel wat met zijn HANDEN kan doen bv. houtwerk, bouwwerk, herstellen van een motor, verven, een glas vervangen edm.
agree  Neil Cross: Although originally a cricketing term, it is, as Kitty says, quite often seen in job descriptions etc.
10 hrs
  -> Thanks Neil. Jack of all trades is 'n beschrijving voor iemand die heel wat met zijn HANDEN kan doen bv. houtwerk, bouwwerk, herstellen van een motor, verven, een glas vervangen edm.
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