“wrench” is to “works” as “crimp” is to what?

Question

It's commonly said that one puts or throws a "[monkey] wrench/(BrEng) spanner" in the "works", but what does one put a "crimp" into?

CRIMP Google Image

1. the act of crimping.

2. a crimped condition or form.

3. Usually crimps. waves or curls, especially in hair that has been crimped.

4. the waviness of a fiber, either natural, as in sheep wool, or produced by weaving, plaiting, or other processes.

5. a crease formed in sheet metal or plate metal to make the material less flexible or for fastening purposes.

Idioms

6. (chiefly US) put a crimp in: to interfere with; hinder: His broken leg put a crimp in their vacation plans.

(Random House)

put a crimp in noun phrase

To thwart or hamper; block or interfere with; stymie: How can we put a crimp in this guy's plans?

[1896+; from the notion of a severe pinching-in as an obstacle] (emphasis mine.)

crimp noun

A restriction; obstacle : He kept putting crimps into my plan

verb

: I'll crimp him good with this nasty new rule (1896+)

(The Dictionary of American Slang)

Dictionary.com

Since one can also put/throw a wrench in someone's plans, I'm looking for another word than "plans," a word analogous with works. This doesn't necessarily have to be idiomatic.

WORKS

(Mechanical Engineering) the interior parts of the mechanism of a machine, etc. the works of a clock.

Source: Collins English Dictionary

Please, consider the following examples:

We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather threw a spanner in the works.

We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather put a crimp in the [word].

-and-

The sudden withdrawal of the guest speaker really threw a monkey wrench in the works.

The sudden withdrawal of the guest speaker really put a crimp in the [word].

Source: Cambridge Advanced Learners' Dictionary

Answer 1

Crimp is a generic term when used in the following idiomatic expression:.

(Idioms)

• put a crimp in/on something: (North American English, informal) to have a bad or negative effect on something
  • *I’m sorry to put a crimp in your plans.

(OLD)

Crimp:

• 1863, from crimp (v.). Originally "natural curl in wool fiber." To put a crimp in (something) is 1896, U.S. slang.

Usage examples:

• The objective of this mission is to put a crimp in the way people move drugs into the United States. Clancy, Tom CLear and present danger (1989)

• Power cuts are threatening to put a crimp in Christmas.

Answer 2

Is there a sense of choke suggested by your "[1896+; from the notion of a severe pinching-in as an obstacle]" and the idea of both crimping a pipe (to reduce flow) and crimping a spade lug to a wire that might fit?

A spanner in the works suggests a grinding halt where a crimp is more likely to slow but not stop proceedings.

Answer 3

How about

put a crimp in his campaign put a crimp in the good cause put a crimp in his crusade