put/throw a spanner in the works (British & Australian) also put/throw a (monkey) wrench in the works (American 20461)

put/throw a spanner in the works (British & Australian) also put/throw a (monkey) wrench in the works (American)
to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather threw a spanner in the works. The sudden withdrawal of the guest speaker really threw a monkey wrench in the works