put a spoke in someone’s wheel—said of an action which is likely to hold back a person or proceeding:
- I have never hinted to Quennebert all the nasty little ways in which you have tried to put a spoke in his wheel.
put in one’s spoke—attempt to give advice, or have some say, in a matter:
- Ulbricht also put in his spoke and said, “We shall do everything to safeguard the prestige of the Westerners.”