Sayings

The squeaking wheel gets the grease

This page is about the saying "The squeaking wheel gets the grease"

Possible meaning:
The person who makes the most fuss gets all the attention.

Note:
This saying is also found as (and possibly originated as): "The wheel that does the squeaking is the one that gets the grease."
squeak (verb): make a high-pitched sound
wheel (noun): a round, revolving object below a vehicle (for example, most cars have four wheels)
grease (noun): a thick, oily substance used to lubricate

Quick Quiz

On the principle that "the squeaking wheel gets the grease", who is most likely to get their money back after a bad meal in a restaurant? The customer who

a. immediately complains loudly in front of all other customers

b. writes a polite letter of complaint a week later

c. leaves his meal unfinished, saying quietly that he feels sick
a) immediately complains loudly in front of all other customers b) writes a polite letter of complaint a week later c) leaves his meal unfinished, saying quietly that he feels sick

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger