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UKlike clockwork
/lˈaɪk klˈɒkwɜːk/
/lˈaɪk klˈɑːkwɜːk/like clockwork
[PHRASE]
What is the origin of the idiom "make a go of something" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "like clockwork" can be traced back to the mechanical clocks that were prevalent before the advent of digital timekeeping. These clocks contained intricate mechanisms that allowed them to keep time accurately and consistently. The phrase likely emerged from the observation of the smooth and precise movements of clockwork mechanisms, which served as a metaphor for something happening in a regular and predictable manner.
Examples
1. It was 64 flights a day between three cities, and, you know, it ran like clockwork.
2. Since the leaking happens at a steady rate, the cells fire off action potentials like clockwork.
3. Since the recent improvements to the service, the buses are running like clockwork.
4. The Queen's holiday is arranged to go like clockwork, everything pre-planned to the minute.
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