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.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
throw a monkey wrench into the works — (USA) If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails … The small dictionary of idiomes
(throw) a (monkey) wrench in the works — (throw) a ˈspanner in the works idiom (BrE) (NAmE (throw) a (ˈmonkey) ˈwrench in the works) (to cause) a delay or problem with sth that sb is planning or doing Main entry: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
throw a monkey wrench into the works — wreck a project, monkeywrenching, piss in the pickles The report that coffee causes cancer threw a monkey wrench into our plans to import coffee … English idioms
a monkey wrench in the works — (or schedule, plan, etc.) a person or thing that prevents the successful implementation of a plan even he couldn t throw a monkey wrench into the works | a cancellation can throw a real monkey wrench into the schedule … Useful english dictionary
throw\ a\ monkey\ wrench — • throw a monkey wrench • throw a wrench v. phr. informal To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules. The Michigan tacklers threw a… … Словарь американских идиом
throw a monkey wrench — or[throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. * /The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into… … Dictionary of American idioms
throw a monkey wrench — or[throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. * /The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into… … Dictionary of American idioms
monkey wrench — n especially AmE 1.) a tool that is used to hold or turn things of different widths British Equivalent: adjustable spanner 2.) throw a monkey wrench in the works AmE informal to do something that will cause problems or spoil someone s plans… … Dictionary of contemporary English
(throw) a spanner in the works — (throw) a ˈspanner in the works idiom (BrE) (NAmE (throw) a (ˈmonkey) ˈwrench in the works) (to cause) a delay or problem with sth that sb is planning or doing Main entry: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
monkey wrench — noun (C) AmE 1 a tool that is used to hold or turn things, especially nuts (nut1 (2)); adjustable spanner BrE 2 throw a monkey wrench in the works AmE informal to do something that will cause problems or spoil what someone else is planning … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
throw a spanner in the works — put/throw a spanner in the works British & Australian, American to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding. We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather threw a spanner in… … New idioms dictionary
