throw a spanner in the works
1throw a spanner in the works — To cause confusion or difficulty, upset plans • • • Main Entry: ↑spanner * * * throw/put/a spanner in the works british informal phrase to do something that suddenly stops a process or plan Her criticisms really thre …
2throw a spanner in the works — (UK) If you throw a spanner in the works, you cause a problem that stops or slows progress on something that was going well …
3(throw) a spanner in the works — (throw) a ˈspanner in the works idiom (BrE) (NAmE (throw) a (ˈmonkey) ˈwrench in the works) (to cause) a delay or problem with sth that sb is planning or doing Main entry: ↑ …
4throw a spanner in the works — put/throw a spanner in the works British & Australian, American to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding. We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather threw a spanner in… …
5throw a spanner in the works — If someone or something throws a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,they do something that causes problems and prevents the success of a plan or event. The two companies were keen to sign the agreement before anything happened to throw a… …
6throw a spanner in the works — verb (UK) To be a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome. Half way through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected …
7put/throw a spanner in the works — informal : to cause something to not go as planned We were ready to start the project when the bank threw a spanner in the works by denying the loan. • • • Main Entry: ↑spanner put/throw a spanner in the works see ↑spanner • • • Main Entry: ↑work …
8throw a spanner in the works — stop the gears, cause activity to stop …
9throw a wrench into the works — see ↑wrench, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑work throw a wrench into the works US informal : to damage or change (something) in a way that ruins it or prevents it from working properly We were going to renew our lease, but the landlord threw a wrench into… …
10spanner in the works — (UK) If someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan. In American English, wrench is used instead of spanner . (Dorking School Dictionary) *** If someone or something throws a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,they… …