На все руки мастер
Na vse ruki master
Word-for-word
"Master for all hands"
English equivalent
"A jack-of-all-trades / Handyman"
What does it mean?
A person who can do everything or is skilled in many different tasks.
Example in use
Russian
Мой отец — на все руки мастер: и дом починит, и машину.
Translation
My father is a jack-of-all-trades; he can fix the house and the car.
When to use
Use this when praising someone for their versatility, especially in DIY, repair, or practical tasks. It is almost always a very positive compliment.
Origin & cultural note
In a culture where fixing things yourself was often a necessity during the Soviet era, being a "master of all hands" was (and is) considered a highly respectable and desirable trait.
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