the wheels are in motion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the wheels are in motion" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to indicate that progress is being made or a plan of action is underway. For example, "We've submitted the paperwork to the court - the wheels are in motion!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The wheels are in motion.

The New York Times - Science

However, the wheels are in motion for things to change.

The Guardian

And – don't get your hopes up – there won't be one just yet, but the wheels are in motion.

The Guardian

A European Athletics spokesman told the Guardian: "The wheels are in motion, and everything points to Yuliya Stepanova being there.

The Guardian - Sport

The harsh realities remain and when a club decide they want to sell there is little you can do once the wheels are in motion".

The Guardian - Sport

Perhaps in part because it hasn't actually happened yet (though all the wheels are in motion), Brexit has so far not proved disastrous for the U.K. economy.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Are the modern Olympics not for the taking part, but for the winning?" Yet the wheels were in motion within the IOC to make sure that athletes like Edwards did not get the opportunity to take part in the Olympics in future; in 1990 the Eddie the Eagle Rule was established, meaning an athlete had to be in the top 30 per cent of international competitors, or the top 50, whichever was fewer.

The Guardian - Sport

In short order, the wheels were in motion for the first Off the Grid event, which started over the last weekend of June 2010 with 10 trucks.

The New York Times

Lindsey, our secretary, let me know first thing that the wheels were in motion to sign the two players so I could start to make plans to co-ordinate an announcement.

Independent

And then last October, Microsoft made its WebRTC aspirations clear, announcing that the wheels were in motion for an object real-time communications (ORTC) API, bringing WebRTC to Internet Explorer.

TechCrunch

The wheels were in motion at an alarming rate.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the wheels are in motion" when you want to convey that a process has started and is likely to continue, even if the final outcome isn't yet certain.

Common error

Avoid using "the wheels are in motion" when you're just starting to plan something. This phrase implies that concrete actions have already been taken, not just conceptualization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the wheels are in motion" functions as an idiomatic expression. As Ludwig AI confirms, this indicates progress being made on a plan, or a process that has begun and is underway.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the wheels are in motion" is a common idiom used to indicate that a process or plan has been initiated and is currently progressing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase conveys a sense of progress and momentum. While grammatically sound and frequently used, it's crucial to ensure it accurately reflects the current stage of a project, avoiding its use when only initial planning is underway. Related phrases include "things are underway" and "the process has begun", offering alternative ways to express a similar concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

things are set in motion

This alternative highlights the initiation or beginning of a process.

the wheels have been set in motion

Highlights the act of initiating, giving a sense of intentionality to the process.

things are underway

Focuses on the current state of being in progress.

plans are in progress

Specifically highlights that a plan is being actively executed.

the process has begun

Emphasizes the start of a procedure or series of actions.

the gears are turning

Uses a mechanical metaphor to suggest that something is now functioning to produce a result.

action is being taken

Directly states that something is being done.

the ball is rolling

Similar to the main phrase, this emphasizes the continuity and momentum of a process.

steps are being taken

Highlights the individual actions that contribute to the overall process.

the groundwork is laid

Suggests that the initial preparation has been completed, and further actions are following.

FAQs

How can I use "the wheels are in motion" in a sentence?

You can use "the wheels are in motion" to indicate that a process has begun and is progressing. For example, "We've submitted the application, so "the wheels are in motion" now."

What can I say instead of "the wheels are in motion"?

You can use alternatives like "things are underway", "the process has begun", or "the ball is rolling" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the wheels were in motion"?

Yes, "the wheels were in motion" is the past tense form and is used to describe a process that had already started in the past. For example, "By the time we arrived, "the wheels were already in motion"."

What is the difference between "the wheels are in motion" and "action is being taken"?

"The wheels are in motion" suggests a continuous process that has its own momentum, while "action is being taken" emphasizes the specific actions being performed at a given time.