engine turning
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of engine turning
First recorded in 1880–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thudding drums, an electric guitar that chugs like a tank’s engine turning over and blaring trumpet fanfare announce the onset of football on CBS, Fox and NBC.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
Though Shapiro taught himself the art of engine turning, he also had an important industry mentor, Santa Barbara watchmaker David Walter, with whom Shapiro began collaborating in 2015.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2023
His mind was a ceaselessly creative engine, turning out original movie scripts and screen adaptations of his own plays at a fantastic clip.
From Washington Post • Aug. 26, 2018
“They’ll do enough to keep the engine turning over and be a big help in a crisis, but they’re not able to take the lead on policy formation,” he added.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2017
Carrots cried, as he saw the engine turning the corner.
From Teddy and Carrots Two Merchants of Newpaper Row by Otis, James
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
