throw a spanner in the works

English

Alternative forms

• throw a spanner into the works

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (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.

   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

   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.

Translations

to introduce an obstacle or something unexpected — see also put a spoke in someone's wheel

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 半路殺出個程咬金 / 半路杀出个程咬金 (bànlù shā chū ge Chéng Yǎojīn)

• Finnish: heittää kapuloita rattaisiin
• French: mettre des bâtons dans les roues (fr)
• Hebrew: לתקוע מקלות בגלגלים
• Hungarian: keresztülhúzza a számítását/​számításait, belerondít (hu), felborítja a tervet/​terveit, beleköp a levesbe
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: stikke kjepper i hjulene (no) (literally “to put spokes in the wheels”)

• Vietnamese: thọc gậy bánh xe

See also

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