Definition & Meaning of "in good working order"

What is the origin of the idiom "in good working order" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "in good working order" likely dates back to the 19th century when industrialization led to the mass production of machinery and equipment. The phrase likely developed as a way to describe machinery or equipment that was operating as intended and was not experiencing any issues or malfunctions. Over time, the idiom "in good working order" has become a common way to describe the condition of a wide variety of items, including machinery, equipment, vehicles, and even non-mechanical things such as relationships or organizations.