English Reference
Idiom idiom

gum up

Meaning

To make non-functional; to interfere with or put into a state of disorder; to ruin.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“Sticky syrup will gum up the lock.”

CONTEXTUAL

“If you do not clean the machine regularly, dust and oil will gum up the gears.”

COMPLEX

“Bureaucratic delays often gum up the process, preventing the team from completing their work on schedule.”

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    flap one's gums

    To speak idly; to talk without effect.

  2. 02

    have seen one's last gum tree

    Of a person, on the edge of death.

  3. 03

    walk and chew gum at the same time

    To do two normally trivial tasks at the same time; to exhibit basic competence or task-management skills.

Last updated August 10, 2026