🪚

Saw

sɔː
Objects Unicode 13.0 common

Meanings

1
Tools · Construction Common

A hand tool with a toothed blade used for cutting wood, plastic, or other materials. Used to represent carpentry, woodworking, DIY projects, or construction work.

Commonly used when discussing home improvement projects, woodworking hobbies, or construction tasks.

Finally getting around to building those shelves this weekend 🪚🪵 📋 Personal social media post
Dad taught me how to use a 🪚 today. Growing up so fast! 📋 Family chat

Symbolizes craftsmanship, manual labor, and traditional building skills in digital communication.

2
Metaphorical · Critique Uncommon

Metaphorically represents cutting through problems, harsh criticism, or eliminating unnecessary elements.

Used in professional contexts to indicate streamlining processes or in casual contexts for harsh feedback.

The editor really took a 🪚 to my manuscript, but it's much stronger now. 📋 Writer's discussion

The metaphorical cutting action can represent efficiency, decisiveness, or sometimes harshness.

Combos with 🪚

🪚🪵
Woodworking, carpentry projects, or cutting lumber.
Commonly used when discussing DIY furniture building or home renovation projects.
🪚🔨
Construction work, building projects, or home repairs.
Represents traditional building skills and manual craftsmanship.
🪚✅
Completed woodworking task or successful carpentry project.
Used to share accomplishments in DIY or construction work.

Culture

The saw emoji reflects the resurgence of interest in traditional crafts and manual skills, particularly during the pandemic when DIY projects became more popular.

Represents different values across generations: craftsmanship and traditional skills for older users, sustainable living and self-sufficiency for younger users.

United Kingdom Often called a 'handsaw' specifically in the UK, with slightly different terminology for various saw types compared to American English.
Gen_X: Used practically to discuss actual woodworking projects or home repairs in messaging apps.
Gen_Z: Used in DIY project shares on TikTok and Instagram, often highlighting sustainable crafting or upcycling projects.
Older: Less frequently used, but appears in messages about traditional woodworking hobbies or helping family with projects.
Millennials: Frequently used when showcasing home renovation projects, furniture flips, or new homeowner skills on social media.

History

2020

Introduction in Unicode 13.0 as part of an expansion of tool and craft-related emojis.

Growing interest in DIY culture and traditional crafts during pandemic lockdowns.