Where did the term throw a monkey wrench into come from?
And to throw a monkey wrench into the machinery is a metaphor for disrupting something, a metaphor of throwing a heavy metal object into machinery. The term originated in Britain, although nowadays it’s primarily found in North American speech and writing.
Is monkey wrench an idiom?
The largely US idiom “to throw a monkey wrench into…” means to sabotage something.
What is a monkey wrench used for?
The monkey wrench can be used to clamp onto pipes and various fasteners such as lug nuts, bolts and screws. The jaws of the monkey wrench are attached to the fastener head: This is where you want to slide the lower jaw to fit the specific fastener with a strong grip.
What is another word for monkey wrench?
What is another word for monkey wrench?
| adjustable spanner | obstruction wrench |
|---|---|
| pipe wrench | spanner |
| Stillsons | crescent spanner |
| Stillson wrench | shifting spanner |
| wrench |
What’s another name for a monkey wrench?
adjustable spanner
Also called, especially British, adjustable spanner. a wrench having an adjustable jaw permitting it to grasp nuts or the like of different sizes.
Is a monkey wrench a crescent wrench?
The Monkey Wrench is a kind of Crescent Wrench or Adjustable Wrench because by design, like the Adjustable Wrench, it is an open-end wrench that has an adjustable jaw for loosening or tightening pipes and fasteners like nuts and bolts.
What is the synonym of Disrupt?
disturb, disorder, disorganize, disarrange, interfere with, upset, unsettle, convulse. interrupt, suspend, discontinue. obstruct, impede, hamper. hold up, delay, retard, slow, slow down.
What’s the difference between a monkey wrench and a pipe wrench?
Monkey wrenches and pipe wrenches are very similar, but they have different jaw designs. Monkey wrenches have flat jaws, while the jaws on pipe wrenches have teeth for gripping rounded surfaces. You should use monkey wrenches for flat surfaces and pipe wrenches for rounded surfaces.
What is the nearest meaning of Disrupt?
transitive verb. 1a : to break apart : rupture three periods of faulting disrupted the rocks — University of Arizona Record. b : to throw into disorder demonstrators trying to disrupt the meeting. 2a : to interrupt the normal course or unity of …
What is a left handed monkey wrench?
A fictional tool, typically used to trick someone who is new to a field or industry. If you want to mess with the new kid, ask him to go get you a left-handed monkey wrench, then watch him scour the truck for the next hour looking for one.
What does throw a monkey wrench mean?
Throw A Monkey Wrench Meaning. “Throw a monkey wrench into” something is a British phrase that simply means to foil, disrupt, sabotage, frustrate, or cause problems to a project, activity, or a plan. This phrase is more commonly used in its longer form- “Throw a monkey wrench into the works”.
What does it mean to throw monkey wrench into the works?
throw a monkey wrench into the works. If someone or something throws a wrench into the works or throws a monkey wrench into the works, they cause problems which prevent something from happening in the way that was planned. Of course they may not sign the agreement by the sixteenth and that would throw a monkey wrench into the works.
What does “throw a wrench” mean?
throw a (monkey) wrench in (to) the works To disrupt, foil, or cause problems to a plan, activity, or project. We had everything in line for the party, but having the caterer cancel on us at the last minute really threw a wrench in the works!
What does throw wrench into the works mean?
throw a (monkey) wrench in(to) the works To disrupt, foil, or cause problems to a plan, activity, or project . We had everything in line for the party, but having the caterer cancel on us at the last minute really threw a wrench in the works! Fig. to cause problems for someone’s plans.