grease the wheels
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Also, oil the wheels. Make things run smoothly, as in You can count on Ben to grease the wheels so we'll be waited on promptly. This metaphoric expression transfers literal lubrication to figurative. [Mid-1600s]
QUIZ
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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Words nearby grease the wheels
grease paint, grease pencil, greaseproof paper, greaser, grease someone's palm, grease the wheels, greasewood, greasies, greasy, greasy goal, greasy spoon
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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