spanner in the works
Plan-wrecking interference
A spanner in the works is something that disrupts a plan or process—the British equivalent of "wrench in the works." The image is of a tool falling into machinery and jamming the gears: Her resignation threw a spanner in the works just before the merger.
The phrase often appears with verbs like throw, put, or toss.
- fly in the ointmentSmall flaw spoiling everything
- monkey wrenchTool with sliding jaw
- throw a wrenchSabotage ongoing efforts
- snagUnforeseen complication
- upset the apple cartDisrupt established order
curveball · block · derailment · obstruction · stumbling block · complication · spoiler · halt · chaos · impediment · bottleneck · disruption · hindrance · wrench · glitch · workaround · spoilsport · idiom
- chaos idiomsall hell breaks loose, pandemonium, madhouse, circus, bedlam
- meddlingmeddle, meddler, butt in, horn in, intrude
spanner in the worksgrease the wheels
Ease a difficult process
smooth sailing · well-oiled machine · catalyst · green light · tailwind
spanner in the worksasset
Item of value owned
boost · leg up · stepping stone · force multiplier · trump card
spanner in the worksasset
Item of value owned
blessing · windfall · lucky break · stroke of luck · gift
spanner, spanners, works, worked, working, worker, workers, workable, unworkable