tool
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
a bad carpenter blames his tools
proverb Said of someone who performs a job poorly or unsuccessfully but lays the blame on external factors, rather than taking responsibility for their own failure. After John spent all day assembling his new desk only to discover it was lopsided, he immediately declared that the package must have contained the wrong pieces. His wife replied, "Only bad carpenters blame their tools, dear." The football player blamed the rainy weather for his poor performance, but as they say, a bad carpenter always blames his tools. When Mary blamed the oven for burning the turkey on Thanksgiving, her husband jokingly replied, "A bad carpenter always blames his tools."
a bad workman blames his tools
proverb Said of someone who performs a job poorly or unsuccessfully but lays the blame on external factors, rather than taking responsibility for their own failure. The football player blamed the rainy weather for his poor performance, but as they say, a bad workman blames his tools. When Mary blamed the oven for burning the turkey on Thanksgiving, her husband jokingly replied, "A bad workman always blames his tools." After John spent all day assembling his new desk only to discover it was lopsided, he immediately declared that the package must have contained the wrong pieces. His wife replied, "Only bad workmen blame their tools, dear."
a poor craftsman blames his tools
proverb Said of someone who performs a job poorly or unsuccessfully but lays the blame on external factors, rather than taking responsibility for their own failure. After John spent all day assembling his new desk only to discover it was lopsided, he immediately declared that the package must have contained the wrong pieces. His wife replied, "Only poor craftsmen blame their tools, dear." The football player blamed the rainy weather for his poor performance, but as they say, a poor craftsman always blames his tools. When Mary blamed the oven for burning the turkey on Thanksgiving, her husband jokingly replied, "A poor craftsman blames his tools."
another tool for (one's)/the toolbox
An additional skill, strategy, tactic, etc., that one can use in some endeavor or pursuit. Look, recovery from this sort of trauma requires a lot of different approaches. Therapy is just another tool for the toolbox. I'm really happy you're taking that course on cloud platform development. It's going to be another useful tool in your toolbox as your career in software development progresses. This medication is just another tool for the toolbox, to be taken on those days when your headaches are intolerably painful.
bad workers always blame their tools
proverb If someone performs a job or task poorly or unsuccessfully, they will usually lay the blame on the quality of their equipment, or other such external factors, rather than take responsibility for their own failure. The football player blamed the overinflated ball for costing his team the game, but as they say, bad workers always blame their tools. After John spent all day assembling his new desk only to discover it was lopsided, he immediately declared that the package must have contained the wrong pieces. His wife replied, "Bad workers always blame their tools, dear." When Mary blamed the oven for burning the turkey on Thanksgiving, her husband jokingly replied, "Bad workers always blame their tools."
don't be a fool, wrap your tool
cliché It is foolish not to wear a condom during sexual intercourse and risk pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. A: "I've got a hot date with a girl I met on campus last week!" B: "Good luck, dude. Just remember, don't be a fool, wrap your tool!" Every teenage boy with thoughts of sex needs to have "don't be a fool, wrap your tool" drummed into them.
down tools
To refuse to work, usually in an attempt to force improvement in one's working conditions. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Sir, I'm afraid the workers will down tools if we don't offer them a better contract. If management doesn't take our salary requirements seriously, then we'll just have to down tools! Everyone at the work site has downed tools in an effort to secure better working conditions.
garden tool
vulgar slang A derogatory term for a woman considered promiscuous. The term plays on the meanings of "ho" (a derogatory slang term for a prostitute or woman considered promiscuous) and "hoe" (a tool used for tilling soil). You can't go home with him—he'll think you're a garden tool!
Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.
proverb Provide someone with that which they lack, and they will complete the task, often after others have abandoned or struggled with it. When my mother forgot about my limited budget and criticized my new apartment's lack of furniture, I simply held out my hand for money and said, "Give us the tools, and we will finish the job." Part of the building is still under construction because the company stopped funding it. Just give us the tools, and we will finish the job! I'd love to march into the CFO's office and say, "Give us the tools, and we will finish the job," but I know he's not going to change his mind. If we want to keep our research going, we'll have to have to look for funding elsewhere.
idle hands are the devil's tools
proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. Idle hands are the devil's tools, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. Idle hands are the devil's tools, after all. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing—he dropped out of high school! And idle hands are the devil's tools.
it's a poor carpenter who blames his tools
proverb Said of someone who performs a job poorly or unsuccessfully but lays the blame on external factors, rather than taking responsibility for their own failure. After John spent all day assembling his new desk only to discover it was lopsided, he immediately declared that the package must have contained the wrong pieces. His wife replied, "It's a poor carpenter who blames his tools, dear." The football player blamed the rainy weather for his poor performance, but as they say, it's a poor carpenter who blames his tools.
it's a poor workman who blames his tools
proverb Said of someone who performs a job poorly or unsuccessfully but lays the blame on external factors, rather than taking responsibility for their own failure. After John spent all day assembling his new desk only to discover it was lopsided, he immediately declared that the package must have contained the wrong pieces. His wife replied, "It's a poor workman who blames his tools, dear." The football player blamed the rainy weather for his poor performance, but as they say, it's a poor workman who blames his tools.
it's ill jesting with edged tools
proverb Casually engaging with dangerous people or things is likely to cause harm. You're right, I don't speed when I'm driving in the rain, not even a little bit. That's because my mom taught me that it's ill jesting with edged tools. You're picking fights with known gang members, Tom. I know you're a tough guy and all, but it's ill jesting with edged tools.
not the sharpest tool in the box
Not intelligent; stupid or dim-witted. Her new boyfriend isn't the sharpest tool in the box, but he's pretty good looking! I wasn't the sharpest tool in the box in school, but I still managed to find a profession I loved.
not the sharpest tool in the shed
Not intelligent; dim-witted or prone to stupidity. His new boyfriend isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's pretty good looking! I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed in school, but I still managed to find a profession I loved.
power tool
A tool that receives power other than from one's hands to operate, typically electricity. Make sure you keep your power tools locked up and out of sight of the children. If you're looking for something to get your aunt for Christmas, you can never go wrong with a good power tool. I think she's been eyeing up a new belt sander.
the tools of the/(one's) trade
The specific tools used in a particular profession. If you want to become a painter, you have to familiarize yourself with the tools of the trade—which include more than just paintbrushes. As a reporter, the tools of my trade used to be a pencil and a pad of paper—but now technology has changed the game.
tool around
1. To wander around (some place) aimlessly or idly, doing nothing in particular. We had a few hours to kill before we had to catch our train, so we just tooled around downtown for a while. The scenic boardwalk is a great place to tool around if you have some spare time on your hands.
2. To drive around (some place) in one's car with no purpose, direction, or end point in mind. I remember spending hours when we were teenagers just tooling around in our parents' cars or the crappy rust buckets our friends had saved up to buy. I love tooling around the countryside in my new roadster.
tool up
1. To become equipped with the tools, instruments, or machinery necessary for a task or one's job. Now that I'm all tooled up, I can finally get to work repairing this fence. After their lunch break ended, the workers started tooling up again.
2. To provide or equip someone with the tools, instruments, or machinery necessary for a task or one's job. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "tool" and "up." This is your first day, right? Head over to the foreman, he'll tool you up. We still need to tool up the new factory.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.
Prov. A reply to someone who wants you to do a task for which you lack the equipment. How am I supposed to wash the upstairs windows without a ladder? Give us the tools, and we will finish the job!
tool around (in something)
to go around in a car; to speed around in a car. Who is that kid tooling around in that souped-up car? Ann spends a lot of time tooling around in her new car.
tool something up
to equip a factory or production line with particular tools and machines, as for new products. The manager closed down the factory so she could tool it up for the new models. She tooled up the factory in record time.
tool up
to become equipped with tools. I need some money so I can tool up to do the job. The factory tooled up to make the new cars in only two weeks.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
tool up
1. Provide the equipment for a particular task, as in Now that we're all tooled up let's repair the boat. This term originated in industry, where it is used for supplying a factory with machinery or other equipment for production. [1920s]
2. Arm oneself, as in They tooled up for their encounter with the rival gang. [Second half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
down tools
orlay down tools
BRITISHIf a group of people down tools or lay down tools, they stop working, often in order to protest about something. In August, the workers at this shipyard downed tools and went on strike for pay increases. Metal workers, engineers, waiters and cooks are among those who have laid down tools this week.
the tools of the trade
orthe tools of your trade
The tools of the trade or the tools of your trade are the skills and equipment that you need to do your job. He was never really a novelist, having no use for the usual tools of the trade such as plot and suspense. The peasants were deprived of their animals, the tools of their trade, and their land.
a bad workman blames his tools
People say a bad workman blames his tools when someone says that something they have done is not of good quality because they did not have the correct things to do it with, to mean that it is really because they did not have enough skill. Complaining about the poor script, he added: `But they say a bad workman blames his tools.'
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
down tools
stop work, typically as a form of industrial action. British informala bad workman blames his tools
someone who has done something badly will seek to lay the blame on the equipment rather than admit to their own lack of skill. proverbA similar 13th-century French proverb observed mauveés ovriers ne trovera ja bon hostill , ‘bad workmen will never find a good tool’, and variants of this early saying can be found in English until the mid 19th century until the emergence of the modern version.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌdown ˈtools
(British English) stop work, either at the end of the day or to go on strike: The workers have threatened to down tools as a protest against the dismissals.the tools of the/your ˈtrade
the things you need to do your job: We are proud to make David’s boots, because they are the tools of his trade as a professional footballer. ♢ Ambulancemen now believe that helicopters are vital tools of the trade.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
tool up
v.
1. To equip oneself with tools or machinery needed for a particular job: The company tooled up to produce the new product.
2. To equip someone or something with tools or machinery needed for a particular job: The company still hasn't tooled up all of its new factories. The supplier travels to every workshop each week to tool them up.
3. To supply or equip oneself with weaponry; arm. Used chiefly in the passive: The gang was tooled up and ready for a fight.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
garden tool
n. a whore; a hoe. (Contrived word play.) She’s nothing more than a garden tool.
power tool
n. a student who studies most of the time. (An elaboration of tool.) Willard is a power tool if there ever was one. Studies most of the night.
tool
1. n. an earnest student. (see also power tool.) Of course he’s a tool. See the plastic liner in his pocket?
2. n. a dupe; someone who can be victimized easily. They were looking for some tool to drive the getaway car.
3. in. to speed along (in a car). (see also tool around.) We were tooling along at about seventy-five when the cop spotted us.
tool around
in. to drive or cruise around. (see also tool.) We tooled around for a while and then rented a horror movie.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.