gum

be up a gum tree (British & Australian, old-fashioned, American, old-fashioned)

to be in a very difficult situation. If the insurance company won't pay for the damage, I'll be up a gum tree.

See also: tree

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.

See also: work

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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.

gum up the works

Etymology: based on the idea of getting gum (= a sticky substance) in a machine

gum up the works

to prevent a machine or system from operating correctly. The project was going really well until that software upgrade gummed up the works.

gum up something

See also: work

walk and chew gum (at the same time)

to be able to do more than one thing at a time. Officials say they have to plan for all kinds of possibilities, that they have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

See also: chew, walk