monkey wrench

 

noun

  • an adjustable spanner with large jaws which has its adjusting screw located in the jaw that is fixed.

verb

  • (monkey-wrench) [with object] informal sabotage (something), especially as a form of protest: they will spike trees and monkeywrench any attempts to log in wilderness areas (as noun monkey-wrenching) the five defendants received jail sentences for monkey-wrenching

Phrases

a monkey wrench in the works

see work.

Derivatives

monkey-wrencher

noun