gum up (something)

phrase

informal

: to prevent (something) from working or flowing properly

Don't use that paper with the copier; you'll gum it up.

The highway construction has really gummed up traffic.

The bearings are all gummed up with mud.

Examples of gum up (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scott used comedy to grease the narrative wheels; here, the laughs tend to gum up the works. — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026

Using clumpy detergent can clog compartments, gum up a washing machine’s internal components, and leave detergent deposits on clothes. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026

Despite offering a separate YouTube Kids website and app, questionable videos still gum up the works. — Jeremy H. Gottschalk, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Antetokounmpo trade talks could gum up negotiations for other players as well, not just in Sacramento but across the league, as teams await word on the 10-time All-Star. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026