if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminately.
Người có công cụ hạn chế thường áp dụng chúng không phù hợp hoặc thiếu phân biệt
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Individuals deeply versed in a particular subject or proficient in the use of a specific tool may display confirmation bias, viewing it as relevant to all situations.
Những người am hiểu một môn học hoặc thành thạo một công cụ cụ thể có thể hiển thị thiên vị xác nhận, xem nó như相关 với mọi tình huống
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” mean?
With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminately.
Is “if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.