gum up the works

== English == === Etymology === From gum up + the works. === Verb === gum up the works (third-person singular simple present gums up the works, present participle gumming up the works, simple past and past participle gummed up the works) (informal) Synonym of throw a spanner in the works. === Further reading === “gum up the works”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.