VOCABULARY - IDIOMS

Gum up the works

Meaning:

The phrase gum up the works means to prevent a process, a system or a machine from working smoothly.

Examples:

  • Are you trying to gum up the works?
  • Let's not gum up the works now.
  • If you call me that in front of the bankers, you're gonna gum up the works.
  • We already know what he's gonna say, and two confessions could gum up the works.