Monkey wrench into the works

Posted by David FG October 13, 2004In reply to Monkey wrench into the works posted by James Briggs on October 12, 2004

Does anyone know the source or origin of the expression "throw a monkey wrench into the works"?

In British English the expression is to throw a 'spanner in the works'. 'Monkey wrench' and 'spanner' are both the names of a tool for turning nuts and bolts. If one of these tools is thrown into a working mechanical device - into its 'works', then things will go wrong.

A slightly up-dated version of 'sabotage' in which (originally) French workers threw their clogs (sabots) into machinery to deliberately damage it.

DFG