Squeaky wheel
Encyclopedia
The squeaky wheel is a metaphor
in the aphorism
, "It is the squeaky wheel
that gets the grease
." or "...gets the oil
." The adage conveys the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention.
There is a book called The Squeaky Wheel, as well as several with that term in their name.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
in the aphorism
Aphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
, "It is the squeaky wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
that gets the grease
Grease (lubricant)
The term grease is used to describe semisolid lubricants. Although the word grease is also used to describe rendered fat of animals, in the context of lubrication, grease typically applies to a material consisting of a soap emulsified with mineral or vegetable oil...
." or "...gets the oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
." The adage conveys the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention.
There is a book called The Squeaky Wheel, as well as several with that term in their name.