How to use Idiom "Throw a wrench in the works" in English? Examples and tips from Grammar Experts
"Throw a wrench in the works" means to cause problems or disruptions in a plan or process. Imagine a smoothly operating machine that suddenly malfunctions because someone threw a wrench into its gears—that’s the essence of this idiom.
Prehistory of the Idiom
The phrase "throw a wrench in the works" originates from the early 20th century. It refers to the deliberate or accidental introduction of an object into machinery, causing it to malfunction. Over time, it has come to signify any action that causes disruption or problems in a process or plan.
Short Advice
Use this idiom to describe situations where something or someone disrupts or causes problems in a plan or process. It emphasizes unexpected difficulties or interruptions.
Examples of Using "Throw a wrench in the works" in Sentences:
"The sudden change in regulations threw a wrench in the works of our project." - The change in regulations caused major disruptions to the project.
"His unexpected resignation threw a wrench in the works of our team." - His resignation caused problems for the team.
"The supplier's delay has thrown a wrench in the works of our production schedule." - The delay has disrupted the production schedule.
"Her last-minute changes to the plan threw a wrench in the works." - Her changes caused disruptions to the plan.
"The weather threw a wrench in the works of our outdoor event." - Bad weather caused problems for the event.
"Technical issues threw a wrench in the works during the presentation." - Technical problems disrupted the presentation.
"The budget cuts have thrown a wrench in the works of our expansion plans." - Budget cuts have disrupted the expansion plans.
"His mistake threw a wrench in the works of our experiment." - His mistake caused problems for the experiment.
"Unexpected traffic threw a wrench in the works of our travel schedule." - Traffic caused disruptions to the travel schedule.
"The software bug threw a wrench in the works of the launch." - The bug caused problems for the launch.
"Legal issues threw a wrench in the works of the merger." - Legal problems disrupted the merger process.
"The power outage threw a wrench in the works during the production run." - The power outage caused disruptions during production.
"Her illness threw a wrench in the works of the project timeline." - Her illness caused delays in the project timeline.
"Supply chain disruptions threw a wrench in the works of our inventory management." - Supply chain issues caused problems for inventory management.
"The contractor's error threw a wrench in the works of the construction project." - The error caused problems for the construction project.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the idiom "throw a wrench in the works."
"The unexpected audit ____________ of our financial review."
"Her sudden illness ____________ of our travel plans."
"The technical glitch ____________ during the live broadcast."
"The team member's resignation ____________ of our project timeline."
"Bad weather ____________ of the outdoor wedding."
Exercise 2: Sentence Creation
Create your own sentences using the idiom "throw a wrench in the works" to describe the following situations:
A key employee unexpectedly quits:
Example: "When the key employee unexpectedly quit, it ____________ of the project."
A critical piece of equipment breaks down:
Example: "The breakdown of the critical equipment ____________ of the production process."
A major event gets canceled due to unforeseen circumstances:
Example: "The cancellation of the major event ____________ of the company's promotional campaign."
A sudden policy change affects a business strategy:
Example: "The sudden policy change by the government ____________ of the company's business strategy."
A family vacation is disrupted by an unexpected event:
Example: "The unexpected storm ____________ of our family vacation."
Exercise 3: Scenario Analysis
Read the scenarios below and explain how "throw a wrench in the works" would be a suitable description.
Scenario: A new software update causes all computers in an office to crash.
Explanation: "The new software update ____________, causing major disruptions."
Scenario: An important shipment is delayed, affecting the entire supply chain.
Explanation: "The delayed shipment ____________, impacting the whole supply chain."
Scenario: A key presenter gets sick right before a big conference.
Explanation: "The presenter's sudden illness ____________ of the conference schedule."
Scenario: A power outage occurs during a critical manufacturing process.
Explanation: "The power outage ____________ of the manufacturing process."
Scenario: A new competitor enters the market with an aggressive pricing strategy.
Explanation: "The new competitor's pricing strategy ____________ of our market plans."
Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences to include the idiom "throw a wrench in the works."
"The last-minute changes to the script caused major problems for the play."
"The last-minute changes to the script ____________ of the play."
"The sudden illness of the lead actor disrupted the entire movie schedule."
"The lead actor's sudden illness ____________ of the movie schedule."
"The unexpected traffic jam delayed the delivery of the goods."
"The unexpected traffic jam ____________ of the goods delivery."
"The new safety regulations complicated the construction project."
"The new safety regulations ____________ of the construction project."
"The breakdown of the machine halted the production process."
"The machine breakdown ____________ of the production process."
Exercise 5: Reflection
Reflect on a time when you felt something "threw a wrench in the works." Write a short paragraph describing the situation and how it made you feel.
"One time when something ____________ was when I was ____________. Initially, I thought everything would ____________, but soon I realized that ____________. This experience taught me the importance of ____________."