throw a spanner in the works

verb

To introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.

“Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he had expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.”

Similar
throw a wrench in the worksthrow a wrench in the gearsthrow a monkey wrench in the worksgum up the works
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Meanings

verbthrow a spanner in the works (third-person singular simple present throws a spanner in the works, present participle throwing a spanner in the works, simple past threw a spanner in the works, past participle thrown a spanner in the works)

present singular third person throws a spanner in the works · participle present throwing a spanner in the works · past threw a spanner in the works · participle past thrown a spanner in the works · alternative throw a spanner into the works

  1. UKidiomaticTo introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.

    Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he had expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.

    Synonyms: throw a wrench in the works, throw a wrench in the gears, throw a monkey wrench in the works, gum up the works

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.

Similar
throw a wrench in the worksthrow a wrench in the gearsthrow a monkey wrench in the worksgum up the works
Also see
gum up the worksthrow a monkey wrench in the worksthrow a wrench in the gearsthrow a wrench in the works

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 打亂陣腳 /打乱阵脚
  • 打亂陣腳 /打乱阵脚 (dǎluàn zhènjiǎo)to introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Finnish heittää kapuloita rattaisiin
  • heittää kapuloita rattaisiinto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
French mettre des bâtons dans les roues
  • mettre des bâtons dans les rouesto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Hebrew תקע מקלות בגלגלים
  • תקע מקלות בגלגליםto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Hungarian keresztülhúzza a számítását/számításait, belerondít
  • keresztülhúzza a számítását/számításaitto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
  • belerondítto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
  • felborítja a tervet/terveitto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
  • beleköp a levesbeto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Norwegian Bokmål stikke kjepper i hjulene
  • stikke kjepper i hjuleneto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Polish krzyżować szyki, pokrzyżować szyki
  • krzyżować szykito introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
  • pokrzyżować szykito introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Vietnamese thọc gậy bánh xe
  • thọc gậy bánh xeto introduce an obstacle or something unexpected
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“throw a spanner in the works.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20a%20spanner%20in%20the%20works. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “throw a spanner in the works,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/throw%20a%20spanner%20in%20the%20works.

Source: throw a spanner in the works on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.