# grease the skids

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/grease-the-skids
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To create conditions likely to produce or hasten favorable future developments.

## Examples

- A small gift can grease the skids for a new deal.
- The manager offered extra benefits to the staff to grease the skids for the upcoming merger.
- By offering early concessions to the opposition, the diplomat sought to grease the skids for a more productive peace negotiation later in the week.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.