Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

throw a monkey wrench into

Idioms  
  1. Sabotage or frustrate a project or plans, as in The boss threw a monkey wrench into our plans when he said we'd have to work Saturday. This transfer of industrial sabotage—that is, throwing a tool inside machinery—to other subjects dates from the early 1900s.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And part of their idea was you throw a monkey wrench into this process to stop it.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2023

“The last thing that a booming economy needs is to throw a monkey wrench into a system that we have that is working marvelously well.”

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 12, 2023

Their kids throw a monkey wrench into one consciously-uncoupling couple’s Christmas plans in the new TV movie “Every Other Holiday.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2018

A rise in the dollar from its current 85 on the DXY to 120 over the next six or seven years will throw a monkey wrench into the plans of the Federal Reserve.

From Forbes ● Oct. 14, 2014

The findings throw a monkey wrench into the idea that perhaps older sperm or eggs have more mutations that could increase the odds of having a child develop autism.

From Reuters ● Feb. 2, 2012

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com