Meaning of 'Throw a spanner in the works'

What does the saying 'Throw a spanner in the works' mean?

Idiom: Throw a spanner in the works

Meaning:

If someone puts or throws a spanner in the works, they ruin a plan. In American English, 'wrench' is used instead of 'spanner'.

Country: British English | Subject Area: General | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used

Contributor: Richard Flynn

Meaning:

If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan. In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.

Country: American English | Subject Area: General | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used

Contributor: Richard Flynn

Meaning:

If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails.

Country: American English | Subject Area: Animals | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used

Contributor: Richard Flynn

Meaning:

If you throw a spanner in the works, you cause a problem that stops or slows progress on something that was going well.

Country: British English | Subject Area: General | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used

Contributor: Richard Flynn

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