How do you use "throw a spanner in the works" in a sentence?

The supplier's delay threw a spanner in the works. Don't throw a spanner in the works by mentioning costs. Brexit threw a major spanner in the works for many businesses.

throw a spanner in the works

Q: What does "throw a spanner in the works" mean?

cause disruption to a plan Introduce something that disrupts a smoothly running operation or plan. Like literally throwing a tool into machinery.

Slang Term BritishAustralian Unknown informal

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Meaning: cause disruption to a plan

搅乱计划，从中作梗

Causar problemas en un plan, meter un palo en la rueda.

計画を台無しにする、邪魔をする

계획을 망치다, 방해하다

Introduce something that disrupts a smoothly running operation or plan. Like literally throwing a tool into machinery.

给顺利进行的工作或计划制造障碍。比喻把工具扔进机器里破坏运转。

Introducir algo que altera el funcionamiento de una operación o un plan. Como literalmente lanzar una herramienta dentro de una máquina.

順調に進んでいる作業や計画を妨害するようなことを持ち込むこと。機械に工具を投げ込むイメージが語源。

순조롭게 진행되는 작업이나 계획에 방해 요소를 끼워 넣는 것. 기계에 공구를 던져 넣는 것에서 유래했다.

Examples

The supplier's delay threw a spanner in the works.
供应商的延误打乱了整个计划。
El retraso del proveedor desbarató los planes.
納入業者の遅延が計画を台無しにした。
납품업체의 지연이 계획을 망쳐버렸다.
Don't throw a spanner in the works by mentioning costs.
别提费用的事来搅局。
No metas un palo en la rueda mencionando los costes.
費用の話を持ち出して計画を台無しにするな。
비용 얘기를 꺼내서 계획을 망치지 마.
Brexit threw a major spanner in the works for many businesses.
脱欧给许多企业的计划带来了巨大干扰。
El Brexit desbarató los planes de muchas empresas.
ブレグジットは多くの企業の計画に大きな支障をきたした。
브렉시트는 많은 기업의 계획에 큰 차질을 빚었다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: work, casual

Tone: frustrated

✓ Do Say

Describe disruption to plans
描述对计划的干扰
describir la alteración de planes
計画の妨害を表す
계획이 방해받는 상황을 묘사할 때

✗ Don't Say

Americans say 'wrench' not 'spanner'
美国人用 'wrench' 而不是 'spanner'
Los americanos dicen 'wrench' en lugar de 'spanner'
アメリカでは 'spanner' ではなく 'wrench' を使う
미국에서는 'spanner' 대신 'wrench'를 사용

Origin & History

British industrial metaphor. A spanner (wrench) thrown into working machinery would cause it to stop or break.

Cultural Context

Era: timeless

Generation: all ages

Social background: all