Put a spanner in the works

 Meaning:

• When you put a spanner in the works, you do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding

Example sentence:

I'm working hard but I feel some people are putting a spanner in the works because they don't want me to succeed.  


Questions for you to answer:

1. Has anybody put a spanner in the works in order to prevent your plans from succeeding?
2. Have you ever deliberately put a spanner in the works and prevented an activity from succeeding?
3. What actions, deeds or circumstances can put a spanner in the works and prevent somebody from getting a good job, for example?
4. How does this idiom relate to close the door on something?