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
the act of crimping.
a crimped condition or form.
Usually crimps. waves or curls, especially in hair that has been crimped.
the waviness of a fiber, either natural, as in sheep wool, or produced by weaving, plaiting, or other processes.
a crease formed in sheet metal or plate metal to make the material less flexible or for fastening purposes.
Idioms
- (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)
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We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather threw a spanner in the works.
We were hoping to get the project started in June but the funding was withdrawn so that rather put a crimp in the [word].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].