put/throw a spanner in the works
idiom
informal
: to cause something to not go as planned
We were ready to start the project when the bank threw a spanner in the works by denying the loan.
Cite this Entry
“Put/throw a spanner in the works.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%2Fthrow%20a%20spanner%20in%20the%20works. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
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