throw a wrench into the works
idiom
US, informal
: to damage or change (something) in a way that ruins it or prevents it from working properly
We were going to renew our lease, but the landlord threw a wrench into the works by increasing the rent.
Examples of throw a wrench into the works in a Sentence
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Finally, planning a trip and working out all of the logistics for different personalities and passions can throw a wrench into the works.
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Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
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Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Throw a wrench into the works.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20a%20wrench%20into%20the%20works. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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