to gum up the works

См. также в других словарях:

• gum up the works — (informal) To make (eg a machine or scheme) unworkable • • • Main Entry: ↑gum …   Useful english dictionary

• gum up the works — to prevent a machine or system from operating correctly. In bad weather, twice as many people use their cars on the road, which really gums up the works …   New idioms dictionary

• gum up something — gum up (something) to cause something to stop working well. Don t send any attachments or pictures, because they tend to gum up my computer. Related vocabulary: gum up the works Etymology: based on the idea of getting gum (= a sticky substance)… …   New idioms dictionary

• gum up — (something) to cause something to stop working well. Don t send any attachments or pictures, because they tend to gum up my computer. Related vocabulary: gum up the works Etymology: based on the idea of getting gum (= a sticky substance) in a… …   New idioms dictionary

• gum up — verb stick together as if with gum the inside of the pipe has gummed up • Hypernyms: ↑clog, ↑choke off, ↑clog up, ↑back up, ↑congest, ↑choke, ↑foul …   Useful english dictionary

• gum — 1. n. & v. n. 1 a a viscous secretion of some trees and shrubs that hardens on drying but is soluble in water (cf. RESIN). b an adhesive substance made from this. 2 US chewing gum. 3 = GUMDROP. 4 = gum arabic. 5 = gum tree. 6 a secretion… …   Useful english dictionary

• gum — gum1 gumless, adj. gumlike, adj. /gum/, n., v., gummed, gumming. n. 1. any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water. 2. any of various similar exudations …   Universalium

• gum — I. /gʌm / (say gum) noun 1. any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air, and soluble in, or forming a viscid mass with, water. 2. any of various similar exudations, such as resin, kino gum, etc. 3. a… …  

• gum — I. noun Etymology: Middle English gome, from Old English gōma palate; akin to Old High German guomo palate, and perhaps to Greek chaos abyss Date: before 12th century the tissue that surrounds the necks of teeth and covers the alveolar parts of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• gum — gum1 [ gʌm ] noun * ▸ 1 part of mouth ▸ 2 chewing gum ▸ 3 substance from trees ▸ 4 eucalyptus tree ▸ 5 type of glue ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count the firm pink flesh in your mouth that your teeth are attached to: Brushing regularly keeps your gums… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• gum up — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms gum up : present tense I/you/we/they gum up he/she/it gums up present participle gumming up past tense gummed up past participle gummed up informal 1) to cause things to be stuck together or covered in a… …   English dictionary