4.6 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 30 April 2012
⏱️ 3 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'A spanner in the works'
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
0:00.0 | This is a download from the BBC. |
0:03.0 | For more information and our terms of use, go to BBCworldservice.com |
0:08.0 | forward slash podcasts. |
0:11.0 | The English we speak. |
0:14.0 | From BBC Learning English. |
0:17.0 | Hi I'm Jennifer and I'm on the lookout for Helen. |
0:21.0 | Someone said they saw her going into the basement earlier. |
0:25.0 | Oh wait, there she is, with a toolkit. |
0:30.0 | What on earth are you doing? There are pipes all over the floor. |
0:35.0 | Oh hi Jen, I'm quite busy down here trying to fix these pipes. |
0:40.0 | Fix the pipes? But you're not a plumber. You don't know anything about pipes. I know, but the boss asked me to try and fix them. |
0:48.5 | Really? Are you sure that's what he said? It seems strange he'd ask you to turn your hand to plumbing. |
0:54.6 | I knew you'd say that so I printed off his email to show you. |
0:58.8 | Look it says about the project someone has thrown a spanners into the works and I'd like you to sort it out. |
1:07.0 | Oh, but Helen... |
1:09.0 | So I'm looking for the spanners in the works. |
1:11.0 | Oh Helen, you shouldn't take it literally in English if someone throws a |
1:15.8 | spanners into the works it means they do something to spoil a plan or make it more |
1:20.4 | complicated. |
1:21.4 | Uh a spanner in the works. |
1:24.0 | So there isn't a real spanner in here? |
1:27.0 | I don't think so. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.