spanner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Paris had already thrown a spanner in the works by calling this week for a delay to the vote, demanding robust safeguard clauses, tighter import controls and more stringent standards for Mercosur producers.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

A spanner in the works could be if opposition parties agreed on a rival candidate but talks on this this week appeared to make little headway.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Divorce, obviously, puts a spanner in the works — and two divorces means two spanners — but you’ve managed to come out of those marriages financially intact.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 9, 2025

In the words of one mortgage broker, that was because the Budget delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves "threw a spanner in the works".

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2024

A young Beta- Minus mechanic was busy with screwdriver and spanner on the blood-surrogate pump of a passing bottle.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley