Make a mess
To gum up is to clog or interfere with smooth operation, as if sticky gum were jamming the works: Hair gummed up the drain.
Often used figuratively for anything that creates obstacles or complications: Bureaucratic delays gummed up the project.
The phrase gum up the works means to cause a system or process to malfunction or stall.
IDEA.org / Words / gum up
Make a mess
To gum up is to clog or interfere with smooth operation, as if sticky gum were jamming the works: Hair gummed up the drain.
Often used figuratively for anything that creates obstacles or complications: Bureaucratic delays gummed up the project.
The phrase gum up the works means to cause a system or process to malfunction or stall.
1. obstruct — clog, Block or wooden shoe; jam (Cooked fruit spread); block (Solid mass, or impede); impede (To obstruct movement); hinder · sticky · congestion · blockage · stall · seize · foul · sludge · residue · gunk
FUNCTIONALITY/SMOOTHNESS OF OPERATIONgum up ≠ streamline Remove unnecessary elements; lubricate · oil · grease · unclog · smooth out
COMPLEXITY/EFFICIENCYgum up ≠ simplify Make less complex; straighten out · sort out · untangle · fix · clean up
block: plug, clog, obstruct, stopper, cork
up, gum, gummy, gumminess
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/gum_up