gum up
Upper Intermediate (B2) informal
To block or mess up a machine or plan so that it can't work properly — like when sticky stuff gets into a machine.
"The old oil had dried out and completely gummed up the engine's moving parts."
Hear it in context
Trump's Plan to Rig the Midterms with the Supreme Court
Pod Save America · 8:44
affiliates as they seek to gum up the works
We Ranked British Sweets Americans Don't Know About
Evan Edinger · 18:31
So far, I'm near close to moving a wine gum up
Picking Your Nose Is Cool | The Basement Yard #549
The Basement Yard · 11:27
that would that would mess up the gum up the works, so to say.
Picking Your Nose Is Cool | The Basement Yard #549
The Basement Yard · 11:27
that would that would mess up the gum up the works, so to say.
Extended interview: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
60 Minutes · 53:06
but I didn't send our soldiers in there except to gum up some tunnels,