What Does "Gum Up" Mean?
"Gum up" is an English idiom. It means "to obstruct, hinder, or disrupt a process or situation, often unintentionally, by causing complications or difficulties."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "gum up" used in a sentence:- A small error in the code can gum up the entire software program and cause it to crash.
- Miscommunications between team members can gum up the project timeline and lead to delays.
- Careful planning and coordination can prevent issues that might gum up the smooth operation of an event.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Gum Up" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "gum up" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold
Silver
Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
