tick over

present singular third person ticks over · participle present ticking over · participle past ticked over · past ticked over

1. intransitiveto idle (to run at a slow speed, or out of gear).
2. idiomaticofTo run smoothly and without problems.

   While the boss was on holiday, the deputy made sure things were ticking over in the firm.

   1 more example

   So soon we're too old to carry We knew we only had a little while In the middle keep ticking over Before you know it, parent a parent

   2011, The Maccabees, Pelican