cog in the wheel
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Also, cog in the machine. One who holds a minor but necessary post in a large organization, as in Frank knew he was just a cog in the wheel of this giant corporation. This term alludes to the role of the mechanical cog, one of the teeth on a wheel or gear that, by engaging other teeth, transmits or receives motion. Used figuratively since about 1930, it sometimes is put as small cog in a large wheel, emphasizing a person's lack of importance.
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Words nearby cog in the wheel
cogeneration, cogent, Coggan, cogged, coggle, cog in the wheel, cogitable, cogitate, cogitation, cogitative, cogito, ergo sum
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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