thrown a spanner in the works

A form of throw a spanner in the works — To introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verb
  1. participlepastpast participle of throw a spanner in the works
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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