put/throw a spanner in the works
idiom
informal
: to cause something to not go as planned
We were ready to start the project when the bank threw a spanner in the works by denying the loan.
Examples of put/throw a spanner in the works in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the injuries to Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca, and a stand-off between the club and Teun Koopmeiners, who wants to force a move to Juventus, throw a spanner in the works.
—
James Horncastle, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024
McCarthy, for instance, largely used his perch to put a spanner in the works of the legislative process while pushing the ridiculous investigations favored by right-wing media and the party’s most radical members.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023
There is a strong suspicion that nicotine can throw a spanner in the works throughout this time — a particular concern given the growing popularity of vaping among young people.
—Anthony King, Scientific American, 13 June 2023
Coronavirus did throw a spanner in the works: MedFin ceased operations in the first week of March as outpatient departments and operation theaters shut.
—Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, 9 Aug. 2020
However, a new paper just published in PLoS ONE could throw a spanner in the works of the thriving Google Books research paradigm.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2015
Everybody got the lockdown, and that really put a spanner in the works.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 6 Feb. 2023
That put a spanner in the works of the recent rally, with the S&P 500 Index posting its worst week since September.
—Farah Elbahrawy, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2022
The government had hoped things would be faster still, only for delays at Pfizer to put a spanner in the works.
—The Economist, 30 Dec. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Horncastle, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024
McCarthy, for instance, largely used his perch to put a spanner in the works of the legislative process while pushing the ridiculous investigations favored by right-wing media and the party’s most radical members.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023
There is a strong suspicion that nicotine can throw a spanner in the works throughout this time — a particular concern given the growing popularity of vaping among young people.
—Anthony King, Scientific American, 13 June 2023
Coronavirus did throw a spanner in the works: MedFin ceased operations in the first week of March as outpatient departments and operation theaters shut.
—Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, 9 Aug. 2020
However, a new paper just published in PLoS ONE could throw a spanner in the works of the thriving Google Books research paradigm.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2015
Everybody got the lockdown, and that really put a spanner in the works.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 6 Feb. 2023
That put a spanner in the works of the recent rally, with the S&P 500 Index posting its worst week since September.
—Farah Elbahrawy, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2022
The government had hoped things would be faster still, only for delays at Pfizer to put a spanner in the works.
—The Economist, 30 Dec. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Put/throw a spanner in the works.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%2Fthrow%20a%20spanner%20in%20the%20works. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share