a cog in the machine

Someone or something that is functionally necessary but of small significance or importance within a larger operation or organization. I'm tired of working in this thankless IT support job. I don't want to be just a cog in the machine anymore!

a cog in the machine/wheel

one part of a large system or organization He was just a small cog in the large wheel of organised crime. This warehouse is an important cog in our distribution machine.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Judie	JOO-dee	English
Deniece	də-NEES	English (Rare)
Lavrentiy	-	Russian
Catina	-	Romanian
Hardy	HAHR-dee	English
Tom (1)	TAHM (English), TAWM (Dutch)	English, Dutch