eloquent and skilled; good with both words and actions
Describes a person who is both verbally adept and manually capable; often used in a positive or admiring tone. The phrase combines 手八丁 (skilled with hands) and 口八丁 (smooth-talking).
He is eloquent and skilled, handling any job without a hitch.
Refers only to being smooth-talking or glib, without the manual skill component.
Refers only to being dexterous or skilled with one's hands, without the verbal component.
A compound of 手八丁 (skilled with hands) and 口八丁 (smooth-talking). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a set phrase combining two established expressions.