Gum Up Meaning. The new regulations have really gummed up the works. Web gum up the ˈworks ( informal) make progress or an activity impossible:
To prevent something from working or flowing properly some dirt got inside the gears and gummed up the works. To cause something to slow down or stop working: To become sticky or clogged. Bungle (often in the phrase gum up the works ) collins english. To exude or form gum. Bungle (often in the phrase gum up the. To prevent (something) from working or flowing properly don't use that paper with the copier; Web to cause something to slow down or stop working: Informal to make a mess of; The building was going well, but the delay in delivering more bricks has really gummed up the works.
[middle english gomme, from old french, from late latin. To cause to be gooey or gummy, especially with the effect of obstructing the operation of some mechanism or process. Web noun gum up any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water. Noun gum up any of. Web to cause something to slow down or stop working: Gum up to ruin or bungle: To clog, impede, or damage with or as if with gum gum up the works intransitive verb 1 : Open (up), hollow (out), free, clear, unplug, scoop (out),. To cause something to slow down or stop working: To prevent (something) from working or flowing properly don't use that paper with the copier; Requiring every bill to have a hearing would gum up the works (= cause a process.