lawnmower

venetian blinds

is a device you should always loan to your neighbor as long as they agree to not take it out of your own yard.

My neighbour asked if he could borrow my lawnmower and I told him of course so long as he didn't take it out of my garden.

is such that were it not for them it would, as it were, be curtains for all of us.

If it wasn't for Venetian blinds, it would be curtains for all of us.