put a spanner in the works

put/throw a spanner in the works

(British & Australian) also put/throw a (monkey) wrench in the works (American)

to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather threw a spanner in the works. The sudden withdrawal of the guest speaker really threw a monkey wrench in the works.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Mccracken	[mə'kreikən]
Ligeia	-	Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Chayim	-	Hebrew
Nir	-	Hebrew
Ahearne	[ə'hɜ:n]
Evelyn	['i:vlin]