Right, that’s a classic case of regional tool slang. In the U.K. and most of Europe a “spanner” is what Americans call a “wrench”. It’s just a name thing, nothing about the shape changes—just a different word that stuck in that market. In the U.S. we split the term “wrench” into a few sub‑types: a “pipe wrench” for pipes, a “crescent wrench” for nuts and bolts, a “combination wrench” that’s a hybrid, and a “spike” or “Allen” for those hex heads. So you might hear a mechanic say “pass me the spanner” in London, but in New York they’d say “give me the wrench” and the type matters. If you’re traveling with tools, the safest bet is to pack a few basic adjustable types—an adjustable spanner, a set of hex keys, and a good set of socket wrenches. That way you’ll cover most naming confusion and any actual need for a different shape. And if the names change, you’ve still got the right gear, so no extra work for you.

Yeah, a Swiss‑Army set is basically a miniature toolbox. Just make sure you keep the spare bit of metal for every odd shape you might see—my last trip to the village in Croatia had a bolt that looked like it belonged on a bicycle and a socket that fit a wrench that no one had a name for. Always bring the adjustable, and if you’re still confused, shout “spanner!” and watch the locals grin, because they’re used to the language switch.

Sounds like a perfect game plan, buddy—spanner in the chest, adjustable in the bag, and a backup set of odd nuts in the spare drawer. If you ever stumble across a bolt that looks like a mystery puzzle, just toss a wrench, a wrench, a wrench at it, and you’ll solve it in seconds. Good luck, and remember: the more tools you have, the less you need to ask anyone what the word for it is.

Thanks! Just keep a spare screwdriver, a set of Allen keys, and a rubber band in your pocket—never know when you’ll need to improvise a quick lock‑breaker or a makeshift pulley. Stay prepared, stay curious, and never let a language barrier slow down a good old wrench work.