Motley describes a group of people or things that are all different kinds, and that do not look as if they belong in one set. The famous phrase is a motley crew: a mixed bunch, not a matching team.

Motley describes a group of people or things that are all different kindsMotley形容一群人或一群東西，種類各不相同，and that do not look as if they belong in one set看起來不像是同一掛的。The famous phrase is a motley crew最有名的說法是a motley crew：a mixed bunch, not a matching team一群雜湊在一起的人，不是搭配整齊的團隊。

The feeling is a little messy and a little colourful — not usually a compliment if you wanted a neat, professional group, but not always an insult either; it can sound fond, like “what a mixed lot we are.” The word is a bit old and story-like; you will not hear it every day on the bus.

The feeling is a little messy and a little colourful那種感覺有點雜亂，又有點花俏——not usually a compliment if you wanted a neat, professional group如果你想要的是整齊、專業的團隊，這通常不算稱讚，but not always an insult either但也不一定是在罵人；it can sound fond, like 'what a mixed lot we are.'有時候聽起來還帶點喜愛，像是在說「what a mixed lot we are.」（我們這群人真是雜七雜八啊）The word is a bit old and story-like這個字有點老派、有故事感；you will not hear it every day on the bus你不會在公車上天天聽到它。

Though actually, it started as a word for cloth of many colours, the kind a court jester wore. From “many colours on one coat” it grew into “many kinds in one group.” So when writers say motley, they still half-see the patchwork.

Though actually不過，it started as a word for cloth of many colours它本來是指多種顏色拼成的布料，the kind a court jester wore就是宮廷弄臣穿的那種。From 'many colours on one coat'從「一件外套上有很多顏色」 it grew into 'many kinds in one group'演變成「一個團體裡有很多種類」。So when writers say motley所以當作家用motley這個字時，they still half-see the patchwork他們心裡多少還看得到那件拼布外套。