throw a monkey wrench in the works



throw a monkey wrench in the works

Fig. to cause problems for someone's plans. I don't want to throw a monkey wrench in the works, but have you checked your plans with a lawyer? When John suddenly refused to help us, he really threw a monkey wrench in the works.
See also: monkey, throw, work, wrench

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Saulius-Lithuanian
Josiah[dʒəu'saiə]
Beck[bek]
Ciriacochee-ree-AH-ko (Italian), thee-ree-AH-ko (Spanish), see-ree-AH-ko (Latin American Spanish)Italian, Spanish
Redmond['redmənd]
AnÍBal-Spanish, Portuguese