throw\ a\ wrench

throw\ a\ wrench
• throw a monkey wrench
• throw a wrench
v. phr. informal
To cause something that is going smoothly to stop.

The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules.

The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into the Wisconsin team's offense.

He hoped to see the class plan fail and looked for a chance to throw a wrench in the machinery.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • throw a wrench into the works — see ↑wrench, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑work throw a wrench into the works US informal : to damage or change (something) in a way that ruins it or prevents it from working properly We were going to renew our lease, but the landlord threw a wrench into… …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw a wrench in something — throw a ˈwrench in/into sth idiom (NAmE, informal) = ↑throw a monkey wrench in something Main entry: ↑wrenchidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw a wrench into something — throw a ˈwrench in/into sth idiom (NAmE, informal) = ↑throw a monkey wrench in something Main entry: ↑wrenchidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw\ a\ monkey\ wrench — • throw a monkey wrench • throw a wrench v. phr. informal To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules. The Michigan tacklers threw a… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • throw a monkey wrench in something — throw a ˈmonkey wrench in/into sth idiom (also throw a ˈwrench in/into sth) (NAmE, informal) to do sth to spoil sb s plans Main entry: ↑monkey wr …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw a monkey wrench into something — throw a ˈmonkey wrench in/into sth idiom (also throw a ˈwrench in/into sth) (NAmE, informal) to do sth to spoil sb s plans Main entry: ↑monkey wr …   Useful english dictionary

  • throw — [[t]θro͟ʊ[/t]] ♦♦ throws, throwing, threw, thrown 1) VERB When you throw an object that you are holding, you move your hand or arm quickly and let go of the object, so that it moves through the air. [V n prep/adv] He spent hours throwing a tennis …   English dictionary

  • throw a monkey wrench — or[throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. * /The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • throw a monkey wrench — or[throw a wrench] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cause something that is going smoothly to stop. * /The game was going smoothly until you threw a monkey wrench into the works by fussing about the rules./ * /The Michigan tacklers threw a wrench into… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • throw a monkey wrench into the works — (USA) If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails …   The small dictionary of idiomes

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