Today, we’re exploring the idiomatic expression “Throw a Spanner in the Works” to help you describe complications and disruptions effectively.
Describing Complications: “Throw a Spanner in the Works”
“Throw a spanner in the works” is an idiom used to indicate that something has caused a problem or complication in a plan. This expression is great for describing disruptions or obstacles, especially in IELTS speaking and writing tasks, job interviews, and everyday conversations.
This expression is great for describing disruptions or obstacles, especially in IELTS speaking and writing tasks, job interviews, and everyday conversations.
Examples of Usage
- “The sudden change in weather threw a spanner in the works of our outdoor event.”
Describes how the weather caused complications for the event. - “His unexpected resignation threw a spanner in the works of our project timeline.”
Indicates how his resignation disrupted the project schedule. - “Technical issues threw a spanner in the works of our presentation.”
Describes how technical problems disrupted the presentation. - “The budget cuts threw a spanner in the works of our expansion plans.”
Highlights how budget cuts complicated the plans. - “The new regulations threw a spanner in the works of our operations.”
Indicates how regulations disrupted operations. - “Her sudden illness threw a spanner in the works of the team’s performance.”
Describes how illness affected the team’s performance. - “Supply chain disruptions threw a spanner in the works of production.”
Highlights how disruptions affected production.
Practice Makes Perfect
To get comfortable using “throw a spanner in the works,” try incorporating it into your daily conversations and writing. Here are a few practice sentences:
- “The unexpected guest threw a spanner in the works of our dinner plans.”
- “Her last-minute changes threw a spanner in the works of the project.”
- “Weather delays threw a spanner in the works of our travel itinerary.”
- “The software bug threw a spanner in the works of the launch.”
- “His late arrival threw a spanner in the works of the meeting schedule.”
- “The missing documents threw a spanner in the works of the application process.”
- “The power outage threw a spanner in the works of the event setup.”
The more you use idiomatic expressions, the more natural they will become in your language repertoire.
Conclusion
Next time you need to describe a complication, try using “throw a spanner in the works” to add a more vivid and idiomatic touch to your English. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use this and other expressions confidently in your conversations and writing tasks.
Test Yourself
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