well-oiled

[wel-oild]

adjective

1. operating with efficiency.

   a well-oiled department.

2. Slang.,  drunk.

well-oiled

adjective

1. informal,  (well oiled when postpositive) drunk

Word History and Origins

Origin of well-oiled¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

With military precision and determination, the well-oiled WhatsApp group pooled funds to buy American phone numbers so they could vote.

From BBC

How will this impact on the smooth-running midfield of last season, where Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were a well-oiled machine?

From BBC

Following his victory, he paid tribute to the elections team and count staff, describing the process as a "well-oiled machine".

From BBC

Today, many many more powers are in place - and the UK's counter-terrorism network, which has a dedicated secret headquarters in London, is a well-oiled machine.

From BBC

Like the carriage of a well-oiled Olivetti, this novel moves between Carmel and Hollywood, in two different centuries, with ease.

From Los Angeles Times