gum up the works

verb

Synonym of throw a spanner in the works.

Similar
throw a spanner in the works
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Meanings

verbgum up the works (third-person singular simple present gums up the works, present participle gumming up the works, simple past and past participle gummed up the works)

present singular third person gums up the works · participle present gumming up the works · participle past gummed up the works · past gummed up the works

  1. informalSynonym of throw a spanner in the works.

    Synonyms: throw a spanner in the works

Synonyms & antonyms

verbSynonym of throw a spanner in the works.

Similar
throw a spanner in the works
Also see
throw a spanner in the works

Origin

From gum up + the works.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

gum up the works. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gum%20up%20the%20works

MLA

“gum up the works.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gum%20up%20the%20works. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gum up the works,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gum%20up%20the%20works.

Source: gum up the works on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.