Meaning of maid of all work | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A general-purpose housemaid.
2. Someone or something that serves many purposes.
   figuratively

Examples

“So in living out, there is the maid of all work⟳ who scrubs the stove and scours the floor and rubs the knives and blacks the boots upon occasion, and in short, does any menial office required of her, and there is the housekeeper, presiding with all dignity over the household, who would perhaps scorn the idea that she was "living out." Yet is she not also at service? Somewhere between these two grades I find⟳ myself. I will only say⟳ I am some degrees above maid of all work⟳, and yet I "live⟳ out."”

“As we hope⟳ our book may fall⟳ into hands by which some information on this subject may be required, we give⟳ here a brief summary of a female domestic's daily duties, beginning at the beginning—the maid of all work⟳.”

“The average woman who is able to afford⟳ hired service at all has one maid of all work⟳. If the family is large, it is necessary that part of the housework be done by the members of it.”

“If we may regard auratum as the queen of Lillies, it will be none the less fair to regard Specienum as the maid of all work⟳, and a very pretty maid of all work⟳ it will perhaps be said.”

“I noticed last⟳ night that a very famous diplomatist, anxious to describe⟳, in short but very pointed language, the services of a famous ambassador of our land⟳, could find⟳ no other words than to say⟳ the he had been willing to be a "maid of all work⟳" for the country.”

“It is obvious that when a company goes on active service, and a large number⟳ of young soldiers are taken out for transfer⟳ to the depot or to the home battalion, and a large number⟳ of men from the Army Reserve⟳ have⟳ to take⟳ their places and bring⟳ the company up to the increased war establishment, that the poor "maid of all work⟳," the colour-sergeant, has a bad time of it. In addition to office work⟳, a colour-sergeant has to look⟳ after drill, musketry, discipline, routine, orders, do his guards, etc.”

CEFR level