árinni kennir illur ræðari

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Archived revision by 176.72.103.157 (talk) as of 11:48, 28 December 2018.
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Icelandic

Etymology

From árinni (the oar) the dative definite form of ár (oar) + kennir (someone ascribes, someone blames) a form of kenna (to ascribe, to blame) + illur (bad) + ræðari (a rower); meaning "a bad rower blames his oar", or "a bad rower ascribes his rowing to the oar".

Proverb

árinni kennir illur ræðari

  1. a bad workman always blames his tools, a poor workman blames his tools