tool (redirected from tools up)

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!

See also: and, finish, give, job

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.

See also: up

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.

See also: around

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.

See also: up

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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.

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 down tools

See also: trade

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tools of the trade also the tools of somebody's 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