The phrase gum up the works means to prevent a process, a system or a machine from working smoothly.
Examples:-
www.wordscoach.com
– Are you trying to gum up the works?– Let's not gum up the works now.
Examples:-
www.wordscoach.com
– If you call me that in front of the bankers, you're gonna gum up the works.– We already know what he's gonna say, and two confessions could gum up the works.