Swiss Army knife

English

a typical example of the class

an especially well-equipped example

Etymology

From the prominent (although not exclusive) association of this type of knife with officers of the Swiss Army; see Swiss Army knife § History for details.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌswɪsˈɑɹmiˌnaɪf/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

Swiss Army knife (plural Swiss Army knives)

2. Any of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers.

   Alternative form: SAK (initialism)

   Synonym: Swiss Army penknife

   She carries a Swiss Army knife for the convenience of having dozens of small tools handy at any moment.

3. (figuratively, by extension) A tool or approach that has many functions, one for every perceivable need.

   This software has been a good Swiss Army knife for us as we rebuild our systems.

Translations

type of pocket knife

• Arabic: سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ m (sikkīn swīsiriyy)
• Bulgarian: швейца́рско но́жче n (švejcársko nóžče)
• Catalan: navalla suïssa f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 瑞士軍刀 / 瑞士军刀 (zh) (Ruìshì jūndāo), 瑞士刀 (zh) (Ruìshìdāo), 瑞士軍官刀 / 瑞士军官刀 (zh) (Ruìshì jūnguān dāo)

• Czech: švýcarský nůž m
• Danish: schweizerkniv c
• Dutch: Zwitsers zakmes n
• Finnish: Sveitsin armeijan veitsi, sveitsinveitsi
• French: couteau suisse (fr) m
• German: Schweizer Messer n, Schweizer Offiziersmesser n, Schweizer Taschenmesser n
• Greek: ελβετικός σουγιάς m (elvetikós sougiás)
• Hungarian: svájci bicska
• Irish: scian airm Eilvéiseach f
• Italian: coltellino svizzero m
• Japanese: アーミーナイフ (āmī-naifu), スイスアーミーナイフ (suisu-āmī-naifu)
• Mongolian: Швейцарийн армийн хутга (Švejcariin armiin xutga)
• Persian: چاقوی سوئیسی (čǎqu-ye suisi)
• Polish: szwajcarski nóż oficerski m
• Portuguese: canivete suíço m
• Russian: швейца́рский арме́йский нож m (švejcárskij arméjskij nož), швейца́рский нож m (švejcárskij nož)
• Spanish: navaja suiza f
• Swedish: schweizisk armékniv (sv) c
• Thai: มีดพับสวิส (mêet páp sàwìt)
• Turkish: İsviçre çakısı

See also

• all-purpose
• can-do
• do-all
• do-it-yourself
• jack of all trades
• multipurpose
• multitool