monkeywrench

verb
UK /ˈmʌŋki.rɛntʃ/
US /ˈmʌŋki.rɛntʃ/

To monkeywrench means to mess up a plan on purpose.

The kids tried to monkeywrench the school play by hiding the costumes.

SYNONYMS

sabotageunderminethwartdisruptfoil

RELATED WORDS

saboteurobstructioninterferencevandalism

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A large wrench with an adjustable jaw, used for turning pipes and bolts.

Dad grabbed a monkeywrench from the toolbox to fix the leaky pipe.

3. To damage or block machinery or equipment as a protest.

The activists tried to monkeywrench the logging equipment.

4. A person who deliberately ruins or blocks something.

The coach called the referee a monkeywrench for canceling the game.