oil (redirected from oiling)

be no oil painting (British & Australian, humorous)

if someone is no oil painting, they are not attractive. She has an interesting face but she's no oil painting.

See also: painting

burn the midnight oil

to work very late into the night. I've got to get this report finished by tomorrow so I guess I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight.

See also: burn, midnight

oil the wheels

to make it easier for something to happen. An aid programme was established to oil the wheels of economic reform in the region. (usually + of)

See also: wheel

pour oil on troubled waters

to do or say something in order to make people stop arguing and become calmer. She was furious with Dave for forgetting her birthday so I tried to pour oil on troubled waters by offering to take them both out for a meal.

See also: pour, trouble, Waters

snake oil (American, informal)

advice or solutions to problems which are of no use. In my opinion, government measures for balancing the budget are just so much snake oil.

See also: snake

a snake-oil salesman (American, informal)

someone who tries to sell you something of no value. The American people are too easily deceived - the perfect target for any passing snake-oil salesman.

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burning the midnight oil

working very long hours, often into the night. What doctors do know is that burning the midnight oil is bad for your health.

Etymology: from the use of oil to provide light before the invention of electricity

See also: burning, midnight