Idiom idiom
down tools
Meaning
To stop work, especially when taking industrial action.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“The workers decided to down tools until they get a raise.”
“After the management refused to discuss the new contract, the entire factory staff chose to down tools in protest.”
“Following weeks of failed negotiations, the union leaders instructed the laborers to down tools, effectively bringing the construction project to a complete standstill.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026