a well-oiled machine
Someone or something that functions very well or efficiently. Trudy and I have been working together in the attendance office for so long, we're like a well-oiled machine at this point. The assembly line worked like a well-oiled machine—we got all the envelopes stuffed in two hours! The department usually runs like a well-oiled machine, but we have five employees out sick right now.
like a well-oiled machine
Said of someone or something that functions very well or efficiently. Trudy and I have been working together in the attendance office for so long, we're like a well-oiled machine at this point.
oil (one's) hand
To bribe one (to do or facilitate something), as or as if by slipping money into one's hand. A: "How are we going to get a table without a reservation?" B: "Don't worry, I oiled the hostess' hand, and she promised us a table in no time." I oiled my brother's hand to stop him from telling Mom that I had a party while she was away.
oil (one's) palm
To bribe one (to do or facilitate something), as or as if by slipping money into one's hand. A: "How are we going to get a table without a reservation?" B: "Don't worry, I oiled the hostess' palm, and she promised us a table in no time." I oiled my brother's palm to stop him from telling Mom that I had a party while she was away.
oil it
slang To work or study into the very late hours of the night or the very early hours of the next morning. An adaptation of the phrase "burn the midnight oil," which means the same. I tend not to spend too much time studying for exams, typically just oiling it the night before instead. If you keep oiling it this way, you're going to end up digging yourself an early grave!
oil the wheels
To facilitate, expedite, ease, or aid something or some process; to make or help things run more smoothly or more easily. Primarily heard in UK. Hopefully this shift in public opinion will help oil the wheels of immigration reform. The clients have been reluctant to sign on for another year, so we're offering a cash incentive to help oil the wheels.
oil up
To cover someone or something in oil, especially in preparation for some task or activity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "oil" and "up." That bike's been sitting in the shed for months, so make sure you oil up the chain before you take it out again. They oiled the muscly model up so that his pecs and biceps would shine nicely for the photo shoot.
the squeaky wheel gets oiled
The people complaining or protesting the loudest or most frequently are the ones who will receive the most attention from others. My sister makes a point of writing letters of complaint to businesses whenever she has an issue with their service, and nine times out of ten, she's rewarded with some kind of discount or gift. I guess it's true—the squeaky wheel gets oiled. I try to support all my departments and employees equally, but squeaky wheels get oiled—it's unavoidable.
well oiled
1. Operating very smoothly or efficiently. Sometimes hyphenated (and always before a noun). Their whole campaign has been well-oiled from the very beginning. The company has become a well-oiled machine under her direction.
2. Drunk. Sometimes hyphenated (and always before a noun). We spent the evening getting well oiled on local liqueurs. Several well-oiled patrons stumbled out of the bar, itching for a fight.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.