throw a monkey wrench into

Idioms and Phrases

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

He adds: “There’s a growing and large share of voters who are going to decide whether they’re going to sit out the next election. Or look for a third party candidate and throw a monkey wrench into partisan politics. They want more choices.”

From Los Angeles Times

They could throw a monkey wrench into the federal effort to prosecute Trump for his most serious crimes before the 2024 election.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

Russell Berman in The Atlantic interviewed Lieberman and asked him these questions and Lieberman couldn't really come up with any concrete reason why now is the time to throw a monkey wrench into the electoral system with all that's at stake.

From Salon

“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

Related Words

• cripple
• destroy
• disrupt
• hamper
• hinder
• obstruct
• subvert
• torpedo
• undermine
• vandalize
• wreck