greasing the wheels

USAGE SUMMARY

"greasing the wheels" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to facilitating a process or making something easier. Example: "To ensure the project moves forward smoothly, we need to focus on greasing the wheels with the stakeholders." Alternative expressions include "smooth the process" and "facilitate progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The administration's proposal, at its heart, desires to limit public oversight, greasing the wheels for development.

The New York Times - Arts

But maybe they now deserve some credit for greasing the wheels for the market recovery.

The Economist

Far from greasing the wheels of commerce, bribery tends to throw sand in them.

The New Yorker

Money market funds serve a critical role in greasing the wheels of commerce.

The New York Times

Niceness, of course, and greasing the wheels for Chicago's bid for the 2016 Games.

The New York Times

In these cases, Dr. Lupyan suggested, language is "greasing the wheels of perception".

The New York Times - Science

If the brokers were inadvertently greasing the wheels for bear raiders, then who was doing the raiding?

The Economist

Used judiciously, derivatives can limit the damage from financial miscues and uncertainty, greasing the wheels of commerce.

The New York Times

Then they should start greasing the wheels and teaming up with FCO and UKTI to do something sensible about it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Just as inflation was thought to fuel growth, kickbacks were long seen as a lubricant greasing the wheels of public business.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The new IPPR report 'Greasing the wheels: supporting and improving Britain's rail and bus services' is available here.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you are trying to convey the need to get all parties on board with a project, try saying 'Let's grease the wheels on this project to make sure we deliver on time'.

Common error

While "greasing the wheels" is widely understood, avoid using it excessively in highly formal writing, such as academic papers or legal documents. Opt for more direct and professional language to maintain credibility and precision.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "greasing the wheels" functions as a verb phrase. It's used to describe the action of facilitating or expediting a process. Ludwig indicates that it is suitable to be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Greasing the wheels" is a commonly used idiomatic phrase that means facilitating a process or making something easier. It is grammatically correct and often used in contexts like news, media and science. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is widely accepted and used, though it is generally neutral in register. When using the phrase in your writing, remember that some great alternatives are "facilitating progress", "expediting the process", and "smoothing the path".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facilitating progress

Replaces the metaphorical imagery with a more straightforward description of making progress easier.

expediting the process

Focuses on speeding up a process, similar to making it run more smoothly.

smoothing the path

Emphasizes removing obstacles to make something easier to achieve.

paving the way

Implies preparing conditions to make something possible or easier in the future.

making things easier

A simpler, less idiomatic way of expressing the same concept.

oiling the machinery

Maintains the mechanical metaphor, but replaces 'wheels' with 'machinery'.

lubricating the process

Uses a synonym for 'greasing', keeping the mechanical metaphor.

aiding and abetting

More formal alternative, particularly useful in legal contexts.

sweetening the deal

Focuses on making an offer more attractive to encourage agreement or cooperation.

bending the rules

Implies some degree of ethical flexibility to achieve a desired outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "greasing the wheels" in a sentence?

You can use "greasing the wheels" to describe actions that make a process easier or more efficient. For example, "The company offered bonuses to employees to grease the wheels and speed up production."

What's a more formal alternative to "greasing the wheels"?

Alternatives include "facilitating progress", "expediting the process", or "smoothing the path". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "greasing the wheels" appropriate for all types of writing?

While generally acceptable, "greasing the wheels" might be too informal for highly formal or technical writing. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when deciding whether to use this idiom.

How does "greasing the wheels" differ from bribery?

"Greasing the wheels" often refers to legitimate actions that help a process run smoothly, such as providing incentives or addressing minor obstacles. Bribery, on the other hand, involves illegal or unethical payments to influence a decision or outcome.