Meaning of the word "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" in English
What does "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail
US /ɪf ɔːl juː hæv ɪz ə ˈhæm.ɚ, ˈev.ri.θɪŋ lʊks laɪk ə neɪl/
UK /ɪf ɔːl juː hæv ɪz ə ˈhæm.ə, ˈev.ri.θɪŋ lʊks laɪk ə neɪl/
Idiom
a cognitive bias that involves an over-reliance on a familiar tool or method, leading one to treat every problem in the same way regardless of its nature
Example:
•
The consultant keeps suggesting the same software for every business problem; if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
•
He tries to solve every conflict with aggression because if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.