throw a spanner in the works

English

Alternative forms

• throw a spanner into the works

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

throw a spanner in the works (third-person singular simple present throws a spanner in the works, present participle throwing a spanner in the works, simple past threw a spanner in the works, past participle thrown a spanner in the works)

1. (idiomatic, UK) To introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.

   Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he had expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.

   Synonyms: (US) throw a wrench in the works, throw a wrench in the gears, throw a monkey wrench in the works, gum up the works

Translations

To introduce an obstacle or something unexpected

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 引起一个意想不到的障碍 (yǐnqǐ yīgè yìxiǎngbùdào de zhàng'ài)

• Finnish: heittää kapuloita rattaisiin
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: mettre des bâtons dans les roues (fr)
• Hebrew: לתקוע מקלות בגלגלים
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: stikke kjepper i hjulene (no) ('iterally: put spokes in the wheels)

See also

• put a spoke in someone's wheel
• monkey wrench (US)
• spanner in the works