gum up the works
Throw wrenches in
To gum up the works is to cause something to malfunction or stop running smoothly, like sticky residue jamming machinery.
The phrase applies to any system or process that gets disrupted: Budget cuts gummed up the works for months.
Someone who gums up the works creates problems, often unintentionally.
- monkey wrenchTool with sliding jaw
- clogBlock or wooden shoe
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- short-circuitUnintended electrical path
sand in the gears · block · mistake · bog down · glitch · jam · snag · hit a snag · error · bottleneck · impede · foul up · blunder · screw up · snarl up · hinder · get in the way · sabotage
operational effect
gum up the worksstreamline
Remove unnecessary elements
facilitate · grease the wheels · lubricate · expedite · pave the way
gums, gummed, gumming, work, works, worked, working, worker, workers