How to use the saying "To throw a spanner in the works"?
I would like to know if this sentence is correct:
"With his comments he threw a spanner in the works, which made the project development much more complicated"
I would like to say that he made negative comments about a project, so he just made it more difficult.
I would be grateful if you could give me some examples to use this saying. Thanks!
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 7
1
In the US we say "throw a monkey wrench into the works" which means the same thing. You have a good example of using this expression.
'Diesel engines were being accepted as a clean powerful alternative to gasoline engines, until Volkswagen's recent revelations threw a monkey wrench into the works"
The idea is that everything was going along smoothly until someone did something that messed it all up.
1
Example: "By refusing to cooperate, he threw a spanner in the works."
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