grease the wheels

idiom

: to improve an essential or functioning part of an organization, process, etc.

They hoped that the tax cuts would grease the wheels of the economy.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Federal student loan subsidies for graduate education, which are more expansive than subsidies for undergraduates, grease the wheels of the advanced-degree machine. —Preston Cooper, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2021

There are some key factors that help grease the wheels of the NBA's ongoing activism. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 28 Aug. 2020

Consumer experiences will most likely grease the wheels for the inevitable and ubiquitous message landscape that will eventually find its way into schools akin to the early days of the iPhone and tablets. —Rod Berger, Forbes, 25 July 2022

In almost any courthouse, plea deals grease the wheels of justice. —Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2021

According to Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik, the measure would even grease the wheels for employers to bring suits against workers pressing for safer conditions. —J.c. Pan, The New Republic, 4 Aug. 2020

The diplomats of the world’s leading superpower have long worked to grease the wheels of international trade and boost the access and competitive muscle of their country’s major companies on the world stage. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2023

But many lawmakers and scholars argue that earmarks fulfill a vital function of Congress, and help to grease the wheels of the legislative process by giving individuals members tangible reasons to negotiate spending deals. —Stephanie Lai, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Feb. 2023

Central banks were keeping interest rates at record lows to grease the wheels of the global economy, and with everyone stuck at home, companies in sectors as diverse as biotech and e-commerce, gaming and fintech were scrambling to innovate and snap up market share. —Simon Willis, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2022

See More