Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

well-oiled machine

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.09 in modern English

Syllables: well-oiled -ma-chine
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Something that operates capably through the effective coordination of many parts.

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see well-oiled, machine.

Example Sentences

"run like a well-oiled machine"
"Our office runs like a well-oiled machine."
"Our office is a well-oiled machine."
"Trevor was the firm's facilities manager and it was his job to make sure that their office ran like a well-oiled machine and that the partners, attorneys, and staff were comfortable."
"A movie studio in the so-called golden era was a well-oiled machine with everything needed to make movies right in place on the studio lot."
"Contrary to this dismal picture is the popular concept of the classroom that runs like a well-oiled machine, smoothly, flawlessly, functioning at full capacity, producing maximum output."

Etymology

The figurative sense is an extension from the literal sense.

Inflected Forms

well-oiled machines (plural)

Phrases

well-oiled

Frequently Paired Words

oilcan oiler well-oiled

Questions

What does well-oiled machine mean?: Something that operates capably through the effective coordination of many parts.
Where does well-oiled machine come from?: The figurative sense is an extension from the literal sense.

How to pronounce well-oiled machine

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