Overheard a homeowner in Phoenix call a drywall lift a 'big metal praying mantis' and now I can't unsee it.

Fiona Mitchell · 2026-03-30T05:55:05.130552+00:00

It was a Genie Lift, and the guy was totally serious. Anyone else have a weird name for a common tool?

the_sean7mo ago

My uncle still calls a crescent wrench a "knuckle-buster" from his old shop days.

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the_jake4mo ago

Did he ever actually bust his knuckles with it, or is it more of a warning name?

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the_xena7mo ago

My buddy calls his drill the "angry bee" because of the sound it makes. He was helping his dad build a deck and kept yelling "hand me the angry bee" all afternoon. It stuck and now his whole family uses the name.

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linda_reed7mo ago

Okay, "big metal praying mantis" is officially the best thing I've heard all week! That's way more fun than its real name. My own tool nickname is pretty lame, I just call my jigsaw "the shaky guy" because I can never cut a straight line with it. Definitely not as cool as a praying mantis.

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