From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisha well-oiled machinea well-oiled machineEFFECTIVEsomething that works very smoothly and effectively The office runs like a well-oiled machine. → machine
Examples from the Corpus
a well-oiled machine• If you're trained correctly you become like a well-oiled machine.• This could never happen in the Bush operation, which has been turning out policy positions like a well-oiled machine.• It was running like a well-oiled machine, instead of like a slightly out-of-control summer camp.a well-oiled machinea well-oiled machineEFFICIENTan organization or system that works very well → well-oiledExamples from the Corpus
a well-oiled machine• This could never happen in the Bush operation, which has been turning out policy positions like a well-oiled machine.• It was running like a well-oiled machine, instead of like a slightly out-of-control summer camp. 