Throwing a spanner in the works
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342203)
Rockingham, Australia
October 21, 2022 4:30am CST
In my discussion about crescents, spanners and wrenches, Carol DM (@CarolDM) said she had never heard of a spanner which came as a bit of a surprise.
For some reason, it reminded me of an old saying. If someone caused a problem with a procedure or plans, you might say that they had ‘thrown a spanner in the works’. So now I’m wondering if that saying is familiar to anyone. Or do you have a phrase which you use if something isn’t turning out the way it was supposed to?
The photo is mine. When this machine bogged down at the edge of the dam, I’m sure that threw a spanner in their plans for the day!
22 people like this
21 responses
@RebeccasFarm (90477)
• Arvada, Colorado
21 Oct 22
Yes a real spanner in the works that is Judy.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90477)
• Arvada, Colorado
22 Oct 22
@JudyEv You know here is a sad one Judy..a city worker right here up the street from me was working by the lake and his machinery rolled down the hill and into the water pinning him under it..he drowned RIP
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342203)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 22
@RebeccasFarm That is very sad indeed. That's just awful. 
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182268)
• United States
21 Oct 22
Never heard that phrase, but he threw a monkey wrench in is common.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137857)
• India
22 Oct 22
Putting a spoke in the wheel means the same thing.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137857)
• India
22 Oct 22
@JudyEv And then there is something like a clog in the chain "Don't be a clog in he chain'
2 people like this
@Beestring (14697)
• Hong Kong
21 Oct 22
Have not heard of this phase. It's new to me.
2 people like this
@Beestring (14697)
• Hong Kong
21 Oct 22
@JudyEv Yes, something similar in Chinese.
2 people like this
@popciclecold (39521)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Never heard it called that. But a good word for it.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47683)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Oct 22
Definitely heard and read that phrase. And I've heard people say "Well, that's euchred"... I don't play euchre so not sure how it fits.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47683)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Oct 22
@JudyEv So... if you euchre someone, you've thrown a spanner in their work and they lose?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342203)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Oct 22
@BarBaraPrz Yep, that's exactly right. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Oct 22
Here in the US the term would be "throw a wrench in the works." Another popular version that I have no idea how it originated would be "throw a monkey wrench in the works." I couldn't tell you for the life of me what a monkey wrench is.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121731)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Oct 22
@JudyEv Yes, you are correct. I took the time to look it up. A pipe wrench and monkey wrench are basically the same thing. And now I can throw spanner into the mix and really confuse people around here! haha
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342203)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 22
@moffittjc What about 'crescent'? Are you familiar with that? To us, it's a shifting spanner/wrench.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35762)
•
22 Oct 22
I am not familiar with that one. I believe it is more common to say that phrase in the UK. One we use here is to throw a wrench or monkey wrench in the works.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
22 Oct 22
Ahh, I see. We say someone threw a wrench in the works. Interesting how different places has different words for things!
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (29344)
• Lichfield, England
21 Oct 22
Yes, I've heard of that phrase and I use it sometimes if something goes wrong.
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (29344)
• Lichfield, England
24 Oct 22
@JudyEv Yes, it does. But saying "throw a wrench in the works" doesn't really sound right to me! 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342203)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Oct 22
@sharonelton Me either! Isn't that a bit strange? And 'throw a spanner in the works' means nothing to some Americans.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16790)
• China
21 Oct 22
Not sure if the phrase"drive a coach and horses through sth" is suitable to it.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36030)
• Philippines
21 Oct 22
We don't have similar terms here.
Or have not heard about spanner.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342203)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Oct 22
There might be another saying in your country that means something similar.
@FourWalls (69061)
• United States
21 Oct 22
I’ve heard the expression, courtesy of the Richard Thompson song “She Twists the Knife Again” (“she throws the spanner in, she puts the screws on”).
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108252)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Oct 22
I always heard a wrench which is still similar
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181821)
• United States
21 Oct 22
We say they had thrown a wrench in the works.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17853)
• Mombasa, Kenya
22 Oct 22
I have never heard that saying before. Though I have learned something from it. Thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342203)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Oct 22
Every language has its own unique terms and phrases I guess. Some make more sense than others.
