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Throw a spanner in the works

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A British variant of "throw a monkey wrench," meaning to cause a problem or disruption that prevents a plan from succeeding, emphasizing intentional or accidental interference with operations.

Detailed Definition
Throw a spanner in the works means to disrupt, obstruct, or spoil a plan, system, or process by introducing an unexpected problem. In poetry, the idiom is vivid because it imagines smooth machinery suddenly jammed by a tool. It can describe bureaucracy, romance, politics, performance, or fate upsetting human designs. A poet may use it humorously or bitterly, depending on the consequences. The phrase is useful for exploring fragility of order and the power of small interventions.
Example
Example in poetry:
A theatre poem might say the actor's illness threw a spanner in the works on opening night; In a love poem, jealousy throws a spanner in the works of reconciliation; The phrase means to cause a practical obstruction or disruption; A poet can use it for British idiomatic colour.
Additional Notes
Throw a spanner in the works means cause a problem that disrupts a plan or system. The mechanical image is strong: a small tool can stop a large machine. In poetry, it can be used for bureaucracy, relationships, political schemes, fate, or comic mishap. Students should compare it with monkey wrench and consider British register. It pairs well with gears, factories, clocks, engines, and the disproportionate power of small obstacles.
Also Known As
sabotage
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