put a (monkey) wrench in(to) the works



put a (monkey) wrench in(to) the works

To disrupt, foil, or cause problems to a plan, activity, or project. Primarily heard in US. We had everything in line for the party, but having the caterer cancel on us at the last minute really threw a wrench in the works! It'll really put a monkey wrench into the works if the board decides not to increase our funding for this project.
See also: put, work, wrench

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BarbaraBAHR-bər-ə (English), BAHR-brə (English), BAHR-bah-rah (German), bahr-BAH-rah (Polish)English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Hungarian, Slovene, Croatian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian,
Daryl['dæril]
Florine-French
Engel-German (Rare), Ancient Germanic
Apollon-Greek Mythology
Balchin['bɔ:ltʃin]