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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 suggests that lack of skill is usually the real problem, not the tools being used.
The expression has been recorded in English since the 1600s. Variations of the same idea appear in several European languages, all pointing to the same observation that an unskilled worker will blame their tools rather than their ability.
The expression has been recorded in English since the 1600s. Variations of the same idea appear in several European languages, all pointing to the same observation that an unskilled worker will blame their tools rather than their ability.
He complained about the software, but a bad workman always blames his tools.