Grease the wheels
verb
To make things easier or go more smoothly.
She donated some money to the school to grease the wheels of her son's application process.
Often appears as...
- grease the wheels of a process
- grease the wheels of business
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb
To provide funds or resources to facilitate a process or task.
The government must grease the wheels of economic growth by investing in infrastructure.
Often appears as...
- grease the wheels of economy
- grease the wheels of industry
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
To influence or bribe someone illicitly to achieve a goal.
The company was found guilty of greasing the wheels - giving bribes to local officials for business advantages.
Often appears as...
- grease the wheels of corruption
- grease the wheels of politics
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To make things easier or go more smoothly.
She donated some money to the school to grease the wheels of her son's application process.
Often appears as...
- grease the wheels of a process
- grease the wheels of business
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb
To provide funds or resources to facilitate a process or task.
The government must grease the wheels of economic growth by investing in infrastructure.
Often appears as...
- grease the wheels of economy
- grease the wheels of industry
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
To influence or bribe someone illicitly to achieve a goal.
The company was found guilty of greasing the wheels - giving bribes to local officials for business advantages.
Often appears as...
- grease the wheels of corruption
- grease the wheels of politics
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Figurative Use
The phrase is never about literal grease or wheels. It's about making situations less difficult.
Networking can grease the wheels for a job seeker.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Positive
Usually used in a positive context where efforts are made to improve processes or relationships.
Regular team meetings help to grease the wheels of project management.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Instant
Greasing the wheels implies a process; the action makes future tasks easier, not instantaneous.
Proper planning will grease the wheels when we implement the new system.
Pro Tip 1/3Figurative Use
The phrase is never about literal grease or wheels. It's about making situations less difficult.
Networking can grease the wheels for a job seeker.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Positive
Usually used in a positive context where efforts are made to improve processes or relationships.
Regular team meetings help to grease the wheels of project management.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Instant
Greasing the wheels implies a process; the action makes future tasks easier, not instantaneous.
Proper planning will grease the wheels when we implement the new system.
Pro Tip 1/3Figurative Use
The phrase is never about literal grease or wheels. It's about making situations less difficult.
Networking can grease the wheels for a job seeker.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Positive
Usually used in a positive context where efforts are made to improve processes or relationships.
Regular team meetings help to grease the wheels of project management.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Instant
Greasing the wheels implies a process; the action makes future tasks easier, not instantaneous.
Proper planning will grease the wheels when we implement the new system.
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