Collocations for "tool"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "tool" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
tool
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- a [power, building, design, plumbing] tool
- a [professional, marketing, finance, management] tool
- [gardening, accounting, developer] tools
- a [project, content, work] management tool
- a [useful, handy, practical, valuable, vital] tool
- in my tool [shed, box, kit]
- [advanced, specific, new, improved] search tools
- the [right, best] tool for the job
- don't blame it on your tools!
- a bad workman always blames his tools
- the tools of the trade
- a tool for [success, learning]
- use all the tools at your disposal
- is not the sharpest tool in the [shed, box]
- US: that [guy, player, actor] is a real tool!
- US: don't be such a tool!
- tool the [stone, wall]
- [books, volumes, leather] tooled in [gold, gilt, pewter]
- the [workers, factory, manufacturer] tooled up for [the day, production]
- UK: tooled themselves up with [guns, rifles, knives]
- tooling around town [in your car, on your bike]
- tool along the [street, highway]
'tool' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
application
- bone
- box
- carving
- clumsy
- cutting
- different
- digging
- fashion
- function
- grinder
- gripping
- hand
- handle
- handy
- hone
- indispensable
- invaluable
- juice
- limited
- melting
- powerful
- screwdriver
- shed
- sophisticated
- stirring
- television
- ubiquitous
- useful
- versatile
- wrench