tick over
Britishverb
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Also: idle. (of an engine) to run at low speed with the throttle control closed and the transmission disengaged
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to run smoothly without any major changes
keep the firm ticking over until I get back
noun
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.
"Years ago, this shop would tick over and pay its way. Now, with employer's National Insurance, energy bills, business rates, wages and everything else, there just isn't enough left."
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
Carbon removal is like that for the climate—it’s essential, it’s invisible, it’s not especially glamorous, but these infrastructure projects are what make society tick over the long haul.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
The men also averaged a tick over five goals a game in the preliminary round plus looked a little rusty doing it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2026
But if he had checked in at 5-9 15/16, and not just a tick over 5-10, you just know it would have been a deal-breaker for some teams.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 3, 2019
Ivy watched the lime-green alarm clock on June’s bedside table tick over to 9:33.
From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
