PUT/THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS (UK) ALSO PUT/THROW A (MONKEY) WRENCH IN THE WORKS (AM); TO DO SOMETHING THAT PREVENTS A PLAN OR ACTIVITY FROM SUCCEEDING
"WE WERE HOPING TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED IN JUNE BUT THE FUNDING WAS WITHDRAWN SO THAT RATHER THREW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS." ,"THE SUDDEN WITHDRAWAL OF THE GUEST SPEAKER REALLY THREW A MONKEY WRENCH IN THE WORKS."
