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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 British English | 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 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.

Country: American English American English | 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.

Country: British English British English | 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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