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Glite Dictionary
to throw a monkey wrench into the works

to throw a monkey wrench into the works

1 8.6
Cause problems on purpose that stop a plan or process from working smoothly
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : echar una monkey wrench en los planes
  • If you're interested (and you're not in a position to throw a monkey wrench into the works), e-mail me and ask to be notified when the new blog is up.

Examples

  • The unexpected storm threw a monkey wrench into the works of their outdoor wedding plans.

  • Unfortunately, General Petraeus threw a monkey wrench into the works and sent everything into a tailspin.

    Blog text (15)

  • When the finance team revealed budget cuts, it really threw a monkey wrench into the works of our project.

  • His sudden resignation threw a monkey wrench into the works of the merger negotiations.

Synonyms

to derail
vsto throw a monkey wrench into the works
64 4.6

Make a plan or project fail

is carried out purposely to stop a process from going smoothly
to open a can of worms
vsto throw a monkey wrench into the works
  • Informal
3 7.4

Create a difficult situation with many unexpected problems

is an intentional action that aims to cause trouble and block smooth progress
to throw a wrench in
vsto throw a monkey wrench into the works
  • US
2 8.0

Cause a problem that stops a plan or activity

is done purposely to stop smooth progress or planned success
to derail a plan
vsto throw a monkey wrench into the works
1 5.2

Cause a plan to fail or stop moving forward

is usually an intentional act to create problems and halt progress
to put a spanner in
vsto throw a monkey wrench into the works
  • UK
8.6

To cause a plan to fail or have big problems

is a deliberate act that prevents a plan running smoothly
to overset someone's plans
vsto throw a monkey wrench into the works
7.7

To ruin someone's plans by making them fail or change suddenly

is deliberate interference aimed at stopping plans from proceeding smoothly

Antonyms

to facilitate
  • Formal
187 4.9

To make a task or process easier and help it happen

How Disruptive

to sabotage
164 7.1
to derail
64 4.6
to throw a monkey wrench into the works
  • Informal
1 8.6
to delay
562 1.4

Surface Forms

throw a monkey wrench into the works infinitive
throwing a monkey wrench into the works present participle
throws a monkey wrench into the works third person singular
threw a monkey wrench into the works past
thrown a monkey wrench into the works past participle

Morphology

throw + a + monkey + wrench + into + the + works

The phrase evokes a concrete image—physically throwing a wrench into machinery—which directly conveys causing disruption; knowing 'throw', 'wrench' and 'works' lets a learner infer the sense of creating problems. Although 'monkey wrench' is a fixed name for a tool, the literal components and the common mechanical-metaphor (cf. 'throw a spanner in the works') make the meaning readily derivable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom throw a monkey wrench into the works comes from a clear image: one popular story says people would throw a heavy tool called a monkey wrench into the moving parts of a machine, the works, to stop it. So, 'to throw a monkey wrench into the works' means 'to cause a sudden problem' or 'to deliberately make a plan fail'.