Throw a spanner in the works meaning
What does the saying 'Throw a spanner in the works' mean?
Idiom: Throw a spanner in the works
Meaning:
If someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan.
In American English, 'wrench' is used instead of 'spanner'.
Country: British English 
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Subject Area: General |
Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
Meaning:
If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan.
In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.
Country: American English 
|
Subject Area: General |
Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
Meaning:
If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails.
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Subject Area: Animals |
Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
Meaning:
If you throw a spanner in the works, you cause a problem that stops or slows progress on something that was going well.
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Subject Area: General |
Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
All idioms have been editorially reviewed, and submitted idioms may have been edited for correctness and completeness.
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See also:
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