to a hammer, everything looks like a nail
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Alternative form of if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Nếu chỉ có một công cụ, mọi thứ sẽ giống như đối tượng của công cụ đó
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The Court today mistakes what this case is about. To a hammer, everything looks like a nail. And to a Court bent on diminishing the usefulness of Rule 23, everything looks like a class action, ready to be dismantled.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “to a hammer, everything looks like a nail” mean?
Alternative form of if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Is “to 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.