Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: German

spanner

 noun
     
Related topics: Tools
span‧ner [countable] British English
1TZ a metal tool that fits over a nut, used for turning the nut to make it tight or to undo it [= wrench American English]
2

put/throw a spanner in the works

informal to unexpectedly do something that prevents a plan or process from succeeding
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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