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A bad workman always blames his tools
The saying a bad workman always blames his tools means that people who do a job poorly often blame their equipment instead of admitting their own mistakes. It reminds us that skill and care are more important than having perfect tools. This idiom is often used to encourage taking responsibility rather than making excuses.He complained about the software, but a bad workman always blames his tools.
A baker’s dozen
The phrase a baker’s dozen means a group of thirteen items instead of the usual twelve. The saying comes from a historical practice where bakers added an extra item to an order to make sure they were not accused of giving too little. This extra item helped protect bakers from fines or punishment and became a well-known expression meaning "one more than expected."The shop gave us a baker’s dozen of rolls, so we received thirteen instead of twelve.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
This phrase means that it is better to keep something you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get more. It encourages people to value certainty over possible gain. The saying comes from hunting, where holding one bird still gets you dinner, but going after two may leave you hungry with no bird at all.She kept her steady job, remembering that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Back to square one
The phrase back to square one means returning to the beginning after a plan or attempt has failed. It suggests that progress has been lost and everything must start again. It is a reference to board games where you can be made to go back to the first square. People often use this idiom when a solution does not work as expected.When the computer crashed, they were back to square one.
Back to the drawing board
The phrase back to the drawing board means that a plan has failed and must be started again from the beginning. It suggests that the original idea did not work and needs to be rethought or redesigned. The saying comes from engineering and design, where plans are drawn before something is built. When a design fails, the designer returns to the drawing board to create a new plan.When the experiment failed, the team went back to the drawing board.
Bark up the wrong tree
To bark up the wrong tree means to make a wrong guess or to blame the wrong person. The phrase comes from hunting dogs that bark at the base of the wrong tree, thinking the bird they are hunting is in this tree when it is in another one. It is used to explain a misunderstanding or mistaken belief.If you think I broke it, you are barking up the wrong tree.
Birds of a feather
The idiom birds of a feather flock together is from the observation that birds of the same species keep together and don't mix with other kinds of birds.It means that people with similar interests or personalities tend to collect together.
Everyone at this conference are birds of a feather.
Bite off more than you can chew
To bite off more than you can chew means to take on a task that is too difficult or too large to handle. It suggests trying to do more than one is able. This idiom is often used as a warning to be realistic about limits.She bit off more than she could chew by accepting three jobs at once.
Bite the bullet
To bite the bullet means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage, even if you don't want to. People often use this phrase when there is no easy way to avoid a problem.It originated from war time medicine, where an injured soldier would bite on a bullet to help deal with the pain while they were being treated.
He decided to bite the bullet and pay the fine.
Blood from a stone
The phrase you can't get blood from a stone means to try and get something out of someone who is unwilling or unable to give it, usually referring to money.I can't pay this bill, I have too many bills already, do they think they can get blood out of a stone?