gum up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are three specific cases, however, where changing course halfway through does gum up the works, and you’re better off leaving things as they are, the experts say.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

However, the Federation of Small Businesses has expressed reservations about the plan, warning that unlimited settlements "would be difficult and further gum up tribunals".

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

He said plastic bags are problematic for material recovery facilities where they are known to gum up machinery.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2024

Although it doesn’t gum up the works, why keep Harpagon as a male character, for example, and make Cleante a female one?

From New York Times • May 3, 2024

Meryl Lee and Mai Thi and I decided that we should find better ways to help Danny than putting gum up our noses.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt