Idiom
well-oiled machine
Meaning
Something that operates capably through the effective coordination of many parts.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“Our team works like a well-oiled machine.”
“After months of practice, the kitchen staff operates like a well-oiled machine during the busy dinner rush.”
“The entire logistics network functioned as a well-oiled machine, ensuring that every supply reached its destination without a single delay.”
Examples
simple
“Our team works like a well-oiled machine.”
contextual
“After months of practice, the kitchen staff operates like a well-oiled machine during the busy dinner rush.”
complex
“The entire logistics network functioned as a well-oiled machine, ensuring that every supply reached its destination without a single delay.”
Origin
The figurative use of well-oiled machine is a direct extension of its literal sense, describing a mechanical apparatus that has been properly lubricated to ensure its parts function without friction.
Key words
Related idioms
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