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Synonyms

grease the wheels

Idioms  

  1. 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]

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.

The U.S. helped grease the wheels of global commerce, expanding trade and providing security.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

Yet as long as unemployment remains low, Americans should have enough confidence to keep spending to grease the wheels of the economy.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

That could help Capital One and Discover grease the wheels with regulators and gain approval for the deal because antitrust regulators have long had those payment giants in their crosshairs.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 21, 2024

It’s obvious why Amazon would want to grease the wheels of government in the Inland Empire.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2023

No axle grease had been provided, and some of the company were compelled to use their precious allowance of bacon to grease the wheels.

From The Story of the Mormons, from the date of their origin to the year 1901 by Linn, William Alexander

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.