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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

the squeaky wheel gets the grease en · X

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. The person who complains or speaks up most loudly receives the redress or attention which they seek.
    • You know perfectly well that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and that if you don't complain nothing ever changes. 1995, Roger Zelazny, Robert Sheckley, A Farce To Be Reckoned With, Bantam, →ISBN, page 13:
    • I think it's true what they say about the squeaky wheel / Always getting the grease 1979, James Taylor, “Shower the People”, in In the Pocket, →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
the squeaky wheel gets the oil alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

squeaky wheel system

Relateds

the nail that sticks out gets hammered down · empty vessels make the most sound · faint heart never won fair lady · squeaky wheel · nothing ventured, nothing gained · vocal minority

Translations (14)

da som man spørger får man svar (the person who complains most receives the attention) · fr ceux qui parlent le plus fort ont toute l'attention (the person who complains most receives the attention) · gl quen non chora non mama (the person who complains most receives the attention) · nb som man roper i skogen får man svar (the person who complains most receives the attention) · pl najgłośniej zgłaszane problemy rozwiązuje się najszybciej (the person who complains most receives the attention) · pt quem não chora, não mama (the person who complains most receives the attention) · fi kitisemällä saa haluamansa (the person who complains most receives the attention) · he הגלגל החורק הוא זה שזוכה לשימון (the person who complains most receives the attention) · tr ağlamayana meme yok (the person who complains most receives the attention) · hu néma gyereknek az anyja sem érti a szavát (the person who complains most receives the attention) · es al que no habla Dios no lo oye (the person who complains most receives the attention) · he מי שצועק מקבל (the person who complains most receives the attention) · mi me whāngai anō te mōkai kākā e ngete ai (the person who complains most receives the attention) · es quien no llora, no mama (the person who complains most receives the attention)