master (redirected from masterdom)

*past master (at something)

Fig. someone proven extremely good or skillful at an activity. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) Mary is a past master at cooking omelets. Pam is a past master at the art of complaining.

See also: past

Fire is a good servant but a bad master.

Prov. You must be careful to use fire wisely and under control so that it will not hurt you. Don't play with the candle flames, children. Fire is a good servant but a bad master. At camp, we learned how to build and extinguish fires safely, since fire is a good servant but a bad master.

See also: bad, but, fire, good

jack of all trades is a master of none

Prov. If you are able to do a lot of things fairly well, you will not have time to learn to do one thing extremely well. Jill: I envy Bob; he can do so many things. He writes novels, paints pictures, makes sculptures, and even plays the dulcimer. Jane: It's true he does a lot of things, but he probably doesn't do them all terribly well. A jack of all trades is a master of none, you know.

See also: jack, none, trade

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your lord and master  (humorous)

someone who you must obey because they have power over you I have to go and cook supper for my lord and master.

See also: and, lord

be your own master

to be able to live or work in the way that you want to, without anyone else controlling your actions The big advantage of working for yourself is that you can be your own master.