tool (redirected from tools)

A bad workman blames his tools.

something that you say when someone blames the objects they are using for their own mistakes. 'This oven burns everything.' 'You know what they say, a bad workman blames his tools.'

See also: bad, blame, his

down tools (British & Australian)

to refuse to work, especially because you are not satisfied with your pay or working conditions. Thousands of Krakow steelworkers downed tools to demand more pay.

See also: down

the tools of the/your trade

the things that you need to use in order to do a job. For the modern sales executive, a car phone is one of the tools of the trade.

See also: trade

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tools of the trade

the things that are needed in order to do a job. Eileen's dress-making shop had buttons and thread and needles and scissors, all the tools of the trade.

See also: trade