Where did the term throw a spanner in the works come from?

Legend has it that Mr Ewen McGregor set up the derrick and drilled a hole 700 feet deep. All was going well and signs of an oil strike were imminent when his son Jethro dropped a spanner down the hole. From this incident the term, ‘A spanner in the works’, originated, and is now known world-wide.

What does spanner mean in British English?

wrench
Definition of spanner 1 chiefly British : wrench. 2 : a wrench that has a hole, projection, or hook at one or both ends of the head for engaging with a corresponding device on the object that is to be turned.

What does speaking volumes mean?

Definition of speak volumes : to provide a lot of information about something : to show something very clearly The company’s decision to ignore the problem speaks volumes about its lack of leadership.

Is spanner a swear word?

(Britain, Ireland, mildly derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language. You spanner, Rodney!

What does a picture of a car with a spanner through it mean?

It looks like a car with a spanner through it and remains it illuminated when you’ve started the ignition to signify that your car is due for a service. In this case, you should book your car in for servicing as soon as possible.

What does a bad hair day mean?

Definition of bad hair day informal. : a day when one’s hair is unattractive and unmanageable You think you’ve had a bad hair day? One U.S. woman has hair problems that go way beyond such ordinary complaints as split ends. — Science News also : a bad day : a day with many problems, annoyances, etc.

What does steal a march mean?

Gain an advantage
Gain an advantage over unexpectedly or secretly, as in Macy’s stole a march on their rival department store with their Thanksgiving Day parade. This metaphoric expression comes from medieval warfare, where a march was the distance an army could travel in a day.

What does it speaks to me mean?

If something speaks to you, it has a special meaning or importance for you: That painting really speaks to me.

What do the British call wrenches?

spanner
In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand spanner is the standard term. The most common shapes are called open-ended spanner and ring spanner. The term wrench is generally used for tools that turn non-fastening devices (e.g. tap wrench and pipe wrench), or may be used for a monkey wrench—an adjustable pipe wrench.

What does spanner mean in Ireland?

Why is the phrase ‘Put a spanner in the works’ used?

It’s safe to say that the phrase wasn’t coined to describe an actual event but for its imagery. The expression comes in a variety of forms – ‘put/throw a spanner in the works/wheels/gears’. The ‘throw a spanner in the works’ variation is the most commonly used.

Could Britain have put a spanner in the works?

It is clear Britain could have put a spanner in the works of the contract. Note: You can also just talk about a spanner in the works, meaning `a problem that prevents something from happening the way that it was planned’. Another possible spanner in the works is the weather, which may prevent us from travelling on the 18th.

Where did the phrase ‘throw a spanner in the Gears’ come from?

However, the use of ‘throw a spanner in the gears’ in the same country just four years later isn’t in doubt. That seems pretty strong circumstantial evidence to place the origin of the phrase in New Zealand in 1828. The earliest use of ‘throw a spanner in the works’ that I can find in print is in P. G. Wodehouse’s Right Ho, Jeeves, 1934: