adjustable spanner

Friendly

Adjustable Spanner

Definition: An "adjustable spanner" is a type of hand tool used for gripping and turning nuts and bolts. It has a movable jaw that allows you to change the size of the opening to fit different sizes of nuts and bolts.

Advanced Usage:

• In professional settings, you might hear the term "crescent wrench" which is another name for an adjustable spanner, especially in American English.

Word Variants:

• Adjustable (adjective): Capable of being changed or modified.
• Spanner (noun): A tool for gripping and turning nuts and bolts; known as "wrench" in American English.

Different Meanings:

• "Spanner" can also refer to a person or thing that causes disruption or confusion. For example, "He threw a spanner in the works," meaning he caused a problem.

Synonyms:

• Wrench
• Crescent wrench (specific type of adjustable spanner)
• Socket wrench (another type of tool for turning nuts and bolts, but with a fixed head)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Throw a spanner in the works": This idiom means to cause a problem or to disrupt a plan. For example: "We were all set for the picnic, but the rain threw a spanner in the works."
• There are no specific phrasal verbs directly related to "adjustable spanner," but you might hear phrases like "tighten up" or "loosen off," which describe actions you do with a spanner.

Summary:

An adjustable spanner is a very handy tool for anyone who works with machinery or repairs.

Academic

Noun

1. can be changed to different settings

Synonyms

• adjustable wrench