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Monkey wrench

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A wrench (spanner) with an adjustable jaw.

    "Did you ever stop to think whether or not you knew how a monkey wrench should be used?"

  2. 2
    adjustable wrench that has one fixed and one adjustable jaw wordnet
  3. 3
    An unexpected or troublesome problem, obstacle or dilemma. figuratively

    "Professor Miller's careful research has thrown a monkey-wrench into the Einstein wheel, although it has far from discouraged the enthusiastic exponents of Einsteinism."

Verb
  1. 1
    To apply a monkey wrench, e.g. to tighten or loosen nuts.
  2. 2
    To introduce problems, to create unexpected trouble, to sabotage. idiomatic

    "I think it’s possible that [US Vice President J.D.] Vance didn’t intend to monkey wrench [the meeting with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky]."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Already in use, and not unfamiliar among mechanics, by 1832; see discussion and references at Monkey wrench § Etymology and history.

Etymology 2

Already in use, and not unfamiliar among mechanics, by 1832; see discussion and references at Monkey wrench § Etymology and history.

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