What does it mean to call someone a "tool"?

Question

My boss uses this term a lot.  Contextually, he obviously means it as an insult, but I can't get a grasp on it.  

It seems to me that if a person were a "tool," they'd be a person used by someone of higher power or authority.  The "tool" would be there to implement his (or her) master's will, and not be capable of pursuing an independent agenda.  "Puppet" would be a good synonym.

However, that just does not fit any of the situations where I hear one person call another "tool."  I hear it most often from my boss, but also from other places, and it consistently seems to be purely pejorative with no specific meaning.

Can someone clarify?

Mahalo!

Duncan Henderson · Accepted Answer

It's slang for penis.

Anonymous · Answer

Tool is just stating that they are either in the way of doing things, or that they are kind of dragging you back from what you can achieve.

It also means that being a tool, you're saying how they are an effort to keep up with. Tbh, alot of slang nowadays is used without meaning. New generation of 14 year olds for example, probably dont even know what they mean when calling someone a bell end lmao

Anonymous · Answer

You can use a tool. So when someone is called a "tool" they're saying people can use them.

? · Answer

Everybody feels a calling of some sort to follow a 2,000 year old religion. When you make a decision it is simply called being rational or using your common sense. A lot of atheists will talk of their "decision" to become (or embrace) atheism. This is because atheism is rooted in the known and the factual while religions are based upon the unknown and the abstract. The calling that so many people describe is simply the alluring tug of the unknown pulling them in.

Mr. E · Answer

Tool - Used as an insult, it's like calling somebody a douchebag
Toolbox - even worse insult
Toolshed - bad news bears

Anonymous · Answer

Generally it is someone that can't think for themselves and seldom realizes when they are being taken advantage of or made fun of.  A tool really can just be anyone who lacks the mental capacity to make smart, educated decisions on their own.

Anonymous · Answer

yeah, its slang for penis usually said to men by a woman when he says something dumb that is sexually orienated that she dissagres with and deems as sexist
Example:
Man: "That girls got some great **** on her"
Woman: "God, you're such a tool"

Anonymous · Answer

Its just like calling someone a 'D-i-c-k' or 'S-p-a'. (:

What does it mean to call someone a "tool"?

8 Answers