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3. grease the wheels

grease the wheels

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grease the wheels

To facilitate, expedite, ease, or aid something or some process; to make or help things run more smoothly or more easily. Hopefully, this shift in public opinion will help grease the wheels of immigration reform. The clients have been reluctant to sign on for another year, so the boss is offering a cash incentive to help grease the wheels.

See also: grease, wheel

grease the wheels

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]

See also: grease, wheel