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."
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