well-oiled

American  

[wel-oild] / ˈwɛlˈɔɪld /

adjective

1. operating with efficiency.

   a well-oiled department.

2. Slang. drunk.

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well-oiled British  

adjective

1. informal (well oiled when postpositive) drunk

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Etymology

Origin of well-oiled

First recorded in 1730–40

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

well-oiled

It was the culmination of Coke’s development of a well-oiled food-service operation and a new feather in the cap of Dagmar Boggs, who oversees Coke’s food service relationships across North America.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

But after two test trips with a full-sized reproduction of the tapestry, the operation appeared a well-oiled machine.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Dr. Al-Hashimi is experienced, but she’s a newcomer to this well-oiled machine, much like yourself joining this series in its second season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

To complete the picture, PSG's midfield of Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves is the well-oiled engine room linking it all together.

From BBC ● May 6, 2026

The three of us were like well-oiled robots, our assembly line never veering off course: fold, stuff, seal, repeat.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

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