[00:00.42]Hi, I'm Jennifer and I'm on the lookout for Helen. Someone said they saw her going into the basement earlier.
[00:07.59]Oh wait, there she is, with a tool kit?
[00:12.91]What on earth are you doing? There are pipes all over the floor.
[00:17.42]Oh hi Jen! I'm quite busy down here trying to fix these pipes.
[00:22.73]Fix the pipes? But you're not a plumber, you don't know anything about pipes.
[00:27.29]I know, but the boss asked me to try and fix them.
[00:30.41]Really? Are you sure that's what he said? It seems strange he'd ask you to turn your hand to plumbing.
[00:36.31]I knew you'd say that, so I printed off his email to show you.
[00:40.74]Look, it says "About the project, someone has thrown a spanner into the works, and I'd like you to sort it out."
[00:49.60]But Helen.
[00:50.56]So I'm looking for the spanner in the works.
[00:53.60]Oh Helen, you shouldn't take it literally.
[00:55.70]In English, if someone throws a spanner into the works, it means they do something to spoil a plan or make it more complicated.
[01:03.58]Oh, a spanner in the works. So there isn't a real spanner in here.
[01:09.53]I don't think so. Let's hear some examples to help explain the phrase.
[01:14.19]The budget cuts have thrown a real spanner in the works for the future of the project.
[01:18.94]This hospital appointment on the 15th has thrown a real spanner in the works for our holiday. We'll have to come back early.
[01:27.50]So this is a phrase we can use to describe something which has gone wrong.
[01:32.96]The boss said that someone had thrown a spanner in the works of our project.
[01:37.71]He means that something has happened that will make the project more complicated.
[01:42.19]Perhaps you should talk to him to find out what the problem is before you start taking the building to pieces.
[01:48.52]You're right. So I suppose we'd better clear up some of this mess. But I can't remember where all the pipes go.
[01:56.33]Oh no. Well let's just try and fit them in as best we can.
[02:01.45]Some time later.
[02:03.42]Well the pipes are all in, but nothing's working. We're going to be in so much trouble.
[02:09.82]We're not defeated yet. Stand back.
[02:13.28]Helen, what are you doing with that huge spanner?
[02:17.11]I'm throwing it into the works. It works. I did it.
[02:25.63]You did, with a real life spanner in the works.