Definition of the word tick over

Pronunciation of vocabulary tick over

tick overphrasal verb
tích tắc
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Origin of the word tick over

The phrase "tick over" originated in the mid-20th century, specifically in the context of automobile mechanics. When a car's engine is idling, it is said to be "tick over," which refers to the sound made by the valves as they open and close very slowly. In other words, the engine is running at a very low speed, just enough to keep it from stalling. The term "tick over" was coined as a way to describe this process, which allows the driver to conserve fuel or shift gears without having to restart the engine. Today, the phrase has been adopted to describe similar situations in various contexts, where something is functioning at a low level of activity or productivity but is still technically running.

Example of vocabulary tick overnamespace

to run slowly while the vehicle is not moving

chạy chậm trong khi xe không di chuyển

The cab was waiting outside, the engine ticking over.
Chiếc taxi đang đợi bên ngoài, tiếng động cơ vẫn nổ đều đều.

to keep working slowly without producing or achieving much

tiếp tục làm việc chậm chạp mà không tạo ra hoặc đạt được nhiều

Just keep things ticking over while I'm away.
Chỉ cần mọi việc vẫn diễn ra bình thường khi tôi đi vắng.
The business is ticking over nicely at the moment.
Hiện tại, công việc kinh doanh đang tiến triển tốt đẹp.