"Throw a wrench in the works"
Say this instead: disrupt things
How "Throw a wrench in the works" shows up at work
A go-to phrase when someone or something has made the project harder without officially being the problem. It keeps the language passive and polite, which is exactly the point when the person who threw the wrench is on the call.
The last-minute scope change really threw a wrench in the works for the dev team.
The last-minute scope change really disrupted things for the dev team.
Corporate Rank: Vice President · Category: Everyday Office Jargon
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