squeaky wheels get oiled

A form of the squeaky wheel gets the grease — The person who complains or speaks up most loudly receives the redress or attention which they seek.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

    We have to run that risk because the only people who eventually get their piece of the pie are those who uppity, pushy, and blatant. Squeaky wheels get oiled.

    1984 August 18, Jim Ryan, “Pride — D.C. Style”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 6, page 5
Cite this entry
APA

squeaky wheels get oiled. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squeaky%20wheels%20get%20oiled

MLA

“squeaky wheels get oiled.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squeaky%20wheels%20get%20oiled. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “squeaky wheels get oiled,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squeaky%20wheels%20get%20oiled.

Source: squeaky wheels get oiled on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.