put the mockers on

put the mockers on (something)

To disrupt, foil, or cause problems to someone's plan, activity, or project. Primarily heard in UK. The caterer cancelled on me at the last minute, which really puts the mockers on this party! It will really put the mockers on our project if the board decides not to increase our funding. You would think the rise of cheap electric cars would put the mockers on Big Oil's profits, but they actually seem to be embracing the change.
See also: mockers, on, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put the mockers on

1 put an end to; thwart. 2 bring bad luck to.
This expression originated as early 20th-century British slang. An Australian variant is put the mocks on.
1 1966 Lionel Davidson A Long Way to Shiloh Shimshon and the judo both seemed to have put the mockers on this particular idyll. We left soon after.
2 1970 Joyce Porter Dover Strikes Again This investigation had got the mockers on it from the start.
See also: mockers, on, put
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • put the mockers on (something)
  • put the mockers on something
  • mockers
  • put a (monkey) wrench in(to) the works
  • put a spanner in(to) the works
  • put/throw a spanner in the works
  • throw a monkey wrench in(to) (something)
  • throw a monkey wrench into
  • throw a spanner in the works
  • throw a spanner in(to) the works
References in periodicals archive
And the capital troops go into battle knowing anything other than a win would put the mockers on their bid to reach the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
LAST week I was paying tribute to David Cassidy, now it's Cheggers (I'll avoid thinking of other TV stars from my childhood in case I put the mockers on them.) OK, on the heart-throb scale, they're maybe at opposite ends - but I was very fond of both.
"We are not going to talk about them winning the league because that would put the mockers on them.
...100 YEARS AGO 01IT was Grand National weekend in Liverpool but the weather threatened to put the mockers on the entire event.
BARCELONA being taken apart by Bayern Munich on Tuesday night didn't just put the mockers on a Gran Classico in the Champions League final at Wembley.
Don't want to put the mockers on him but the 7-1 I got looks nice now.
The following day Clwyd West Tory MP David Jones put the mockers on the notion.
"I think the JLS thing last year put the mockers on someone actually turning the lights on," he added.
Using the TV-b-gone you can put the mockers on your friend's, co-workers' and family's enjoyment of Strictly Ice Factor in one surreptitious stroke.
This week, though, we are hoping not to put the mockers on Warren Gatland's men by going for them to make it two wins out of two.
It is more than 20 years now since the Brazilian legend put the mockers on Colombia, suggesting they could win the 1994 World Cup.
? I never like to tip my horses on Twitter before a race as it can put the mockers on them.
SEAN LINEEN admits he is amazed Cardiff have put the mockers on Dan Parks' farewell to Firhill.
He gave Wolves a free-kick outside the box for a foul committed two yards inside it, while his assistant Ron Ganfield - wearing a baseball cap and not in line - ruled that a cross had gone out of play just before he put the mockers on Kevin Doyle's 'equaliser' in injury time.
Schwarzer can see the similarities but is hoping the result is radically different against an Atletico side who put the mockers on an all-English final by dumping Liverpool out in the semi-finals.