monkey wrench: Meaning and Definition of

mon'key wrench"

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. Also called,a wrench having an adjustable jaw permitting it to grasp nuts or the like of different sizes.
  2. something that interferes with functioning; obstacle: He threw a monkey wrench into our plans.

mon•key-wrench

Pronunciation: (mung'kē-rench"), [key]
—v.i.
  1. to prevent, delay, or sabotage industrialization or development of wilderness areas, esp. through vandalism.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.