| [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. |
