throw a spanner in the works
/ˌθrəʊ ə ˈspænə ɪn ðə ˈwɜːks/INFORMAL · C1
中文對應近似對應
節外生枝
字面意思: «往機器裡扔扳手»
意思
to do something that stops a plan from succeeding
做出讓計畫受阻的事.
例句
- 1We had the wedding all planned, but the venue closing threw a spanner in the works.
- 2Bad news, I'm afraid: the train strike has thrown a spanner in the works.
- 3Our holiday was booked until Maria's passport expired and threw a spanner in the works.
- 4Don't let one sick day throw a spanner in the works; we can still finish by Friday.
- 5Leo keeps throwing a spanner in the works by changing the design at the last minute.
文法
只有 throw 變化形式:throws、throwing、threw、thrown。也可說 put a spanner in the works。
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