spanner

IPA: spˈænɝ

(Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench.
(rare) One who, or that which, spans.
(weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
(obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
(UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works)
(Britain, Ireland, mildly derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.

Examples of "spanner" in Sentences

I thought it would be a spanner.
That puts a spanner in the works.
Sorry if this is a spanner in the works.
A different take on the noun spanner here.
That throws a bit of a spanner in the works.
Do I care what kind of spanner my car mechanic uses?
Helpfully throwing another spanner in the works .....
Crank bolt spanner or crank spanner is another name for this tool.
I have tried, and each time I try I throw a spanner and that's that.
The most common shapes are called open ended spanner and ring spanner.
Pakistan is the 'spanner' in the works -- as General Kayani might say.
A special spanner is available for tightening and loosening the couplers.
Budding is also credited with the invention of the screw adjustable spanner.
The chief grabbed a spanner wrench and rapped on the Baychimoâ€ ™ s hatch three times.
Some kind of spanner or leatherman or something will be needed to unscrew the sparkplugs.
A further one in 10 stated that a "spanner" was a term used to describe someone of limited intelligence.
That would throw a spanner in the works of what is possibly the most promising structural growth story in the world today.
Could you come down here for a minute, he called over his shoulder as he finished up and replaced a spanner to its outlined space on the wall above his workbench.