The phrase "Girl Friday" describes a female assistant capable of doing a variety of tasks. The word "girl" is pronounced /ɡɜːrl/ with a hard "g" sound, while "Friday" is pronounced /ˈfraɪdi/ with a long "i" sound. Interestingly, the term "Girl Friday" originated from a novel in which the main character's assistant was named "Robinson Crusoe Friday." Over time, the phrase has come to describe any female assistant who is capable, efficient, and versatile.
Girl Friday is a colloquial term used to refer to a versatile, efficient, and resourceful female assistant or secretary who is capable of handling various tasks and responsibilities. The term originated from the character "Friday," who is a loyal and reliable assistant in the novel "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.
In a professional context, a girl Friday is typically employed to provide administrative support to executives or managers in a wide range of industries. They are highly organized and multitasking individuals who possess exceptional time management and problem-solving skills. The duties of a girl Friday may include but are not limited to answering phone calls, managing correspondence, scheduling appointments and meetings, making travel arrangements, conducting research, preparing reports, handling financial matters, organizing files, and assisting with any ad hoc tasks that come up.
A girl Friday is characterized by their adaptability and ability to work independently with minimal supervision. They often possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, which enables them to effectively interact with clients, colleagues, and vendors. Dependability, confidentiality, and a professional demeanor are also key attributes of a girl Friday, as they are often entrusted with sensitive information and must handle it with utmost discretion.
In summary, a girl Friday is a competent and versatile female assistant who goes above and beyond to support executives and perform a wide range of administrative tasks efficiently and effectively.
The term "Girl Friday" originated in the early 20th century, specifically in the 1940s. It was coined by American writer and playwright Ben Hecht in his play "Front Page" which was later adapted into a film.
In the play, the character named Hildy Johnson, who is a newspaper reporter, refers to his coworker, a woman named Molly Malloy, as his "girl Friday". Molly Malloy assists Hildy throughout the play by helping him with various tasks.
The term "Girl Friday" is a wordplay on the phrase "Man Friday" which comes from the novel "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe. Man Friday is the name given to Robinson Crusoe's loyal assistant whom he meets on the island.
Thus, "Girl Friday" emerged as a catchphrase to refer to a capable and dependable female assistant or secretary who could handle various tasks for their employer.