Cog in the wheel


Also, cog in the machine. One who holds a minor but necessary post in a large organization, as in Frank knew he was just a cog in the wheel of this giant corporation. This term alludes to the role of the mechanical cog, one of the teeth on a wheel or gear that, by engaging other teeth, transmits or receives motion. Used figuratively since about 1930, it sometimes is put as small cog in a large wheel, emphasizing a person’s lack of importance.

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  • Cogitate

    [koj-i-teyt] /ˈkɒdʒ ɪˌteɪt/ verb (used without object), cogitated, cogitating. 1. to think hard; ponder; meditate: to cogitate about a problem. verb (used with object), cogitated, cogitating. 2. to think about; devise: to cogitate a scheme. /ˈkɒdʒɪˌteɪt/ verb 1. to think deeply about (a problem, possibility, etc); ponder v. late 16c., from Latin cogitatus, past participle […]

  • Cogitating

    [koj-i-teyt] /ˈkɒdʒ ɪˌteɪt/ verb (used without object), cogitated, cogitating. 1. to think hard; ponder; meditate: to cogitate about a problem. verb (used with object), cogitated, cogitating. 2. to think about; devise: to cogitate a scheme. /ˈkɒdʒɪˌteɪt/ verb 1. to think deeply about (a problem, possibility, etc); ponder v. late 16c., from Latin cogitatus, past participle […]

  • Cogitation

    [koj-i-tey-shuh n] /ˌkɒdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən/ noun 1. concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation: After hours of cogitation he came up with a new proposal. 2. the faculty of thinking: She was a serious student and had a great power of cogitation. 3. a thought; design or plan: to jot down one’s cogitations. n. c.1200, “thought, […]

  • Cogitations

    [koj-i-tey-shuh n] /ˌkɒdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən/ noun 1. concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation: After hours of cogitation he came up with a new proposal. 2. the faculty of thinking: She was a serious student and had a great power of cogitation. 3. a thought; design or plan: to jot down one’s cogitations. n. c.1200, “thought, […]

  • Cogitative

    [koj-i-tey-tiv] /ˈkɒdʒ ɪˌteɪ tɪv/ adjective 1. meditating; contemplating: The cogitative faculty distinguishes humans from animals. 2. given to meditation; thoughtful: The leaders sat in cogitative silence. /ˈkɒdʒɪtətɪv/ adjective 1. capable of thinking 2. thoughtful adj. late 15c., from Old French cogitatif (14c.), from Medieval Latin cogitativus, from Latin cogitare (see cogitation).


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