Sekirov Dictionary

monkey wrench

noun 2
verb 2
forms 4

noun2

•
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? — 1903
•
(figurative) An unexpected or troublesome problem, obstacle or dilemma.
- 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. — 1926

verb2

To apply a monkey wrench, e.g. to tighten or loosen nuts.
•
To introduce problems, to create unexpected trouble, to sabotage.
- 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]. — 2025

forms

monkey wrenched · monkey wrenching · monkey wrenches · monkey-wrenches

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