throw a wrench into the works
idiom
US, informal
: to damage or change (something) in a way that ruins it or prevents it from working properly
We were going to renew our lease, but the landlord threw a wrench into the works by increasing the rent.
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“Throw a wrench into the works.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20a%20wrench%20into%20the%20works. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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