Rube Goldberg machine

noun

A comical, overcomplicated machine which performs a simple task.

Similar
Heath Robinson
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Meanings

nounRube Goldberg machine (plural Rube Goldberg machines)

plural Rube Goldberg machines

  1. CanadaUSA comical, overcomplicated machine which performs a simple task.

    Synonyms: Heath Robinson

  2. broadlyAnything that is overly complicated.

    To be overly cynical myself, that is still the macro view. Littlefinger’s execution and the white walkers passing through the rubble of the Wall are just two observations that this enormous Rube Goldberg machine is running on time.

    2017 August 27, Brandon Nowalk, “Game Of Thrones slows down for the longest, and best, episode of the season (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA comical, overcomplicated machine which performs a simple task.

Similar
Heath Robinson
Also see
rube goldberg

Origin

Named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who drew many such machines in his comics.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 魯布·戈德堡機械 /鲁布·戈德堡机械
  • 魯布·戈德堡機械 /鲁布·戈德堡机械comically overcomplicated machine
Dutch Rube Goldbergmachine
  • Rube Goldbergmachinecomically overcomplicated machine
French usine à gaz
  • usine à gazcomically overcomplicated machine
German Rube-Goldberg-Maschine
  • Rube-Goldberg-Maschinecomically overcomplicated machine
Hungarian Rube Goldberg-gép
  • Rube Goldberg-gépcomically overcomplicated machine
Japanese ルーブ・ゴールドバーグ・マシン, ピタゴラスイッチ
  • ルーブ・ゴールドバーグ・マシンcomically overcomplicated machine
  • ピタゴラスイッチ (pitagora suicchi)comically overcomplicated machine
  • ピタゴラ装置 (pitagora sōchi)comically overcomplicated machine
Spanish Máquina de Rube Goldberg
  • Máquina de Rube Goldbergcomically overcomplicated machine
Swedish Rube Goldberg-maskin
  • Rube Goldberg-maskincomically overcomplicated machine
Turkish Rube Goldberg makinesi, Zihni Sinir Proceleri
  • Rube Goldberg makinesicomically overcomplicated machine
  • Zihni Sinir Procelericomically overcomplicated machine
Cite this entry
APA

Rube Goldberg machine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rube%20Goldberg%20machine

MLA

“Rube Goldberg machine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rube%20Goldberg%20machine. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Rube Goldberg machine,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rube%20Goldberg%20machine.

Source: Rube Goldberg machine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.