A Bad Workman (Always) Blames His Tools

B2 8+

Collocations of a bad workman (always) blames his tools

poor workmanship
Frequency: 70 %

The project failed not because of the tools but due to poor workmanship.

incompetent employee
Frequency: 60 %

The manager blamed the failure on an incompetent employee rather than accepting responsibility.

faulty equipment
Frequency: 50 %

The chef refused to take the blame, insisting it was the faulty equipment that ruined the dish.

Idiomatic Expressions for a bad workman (always) blames his tools

  • Phrase: A bad workman always blames his tools
    Meaning: This phrase means that someone who performs poorly or makes mistakes will often blame their equipment or tools instead of taking responsibility for their own shortcomings.
    Usage: This idiom is used to highlight the importance of personal accountability and the tendency for people to shift blame onto external factors rather than admitting their own faults.