slip a cog

S s

Definitions of slip a cog words

noun slip a cog (not in technical use) a gear tooth, formerly especially one of hardwood or metal, fitted into a slot in a gearwheel of less durable material. 1
noun slip a cog a cogwheel. 1
noun slip a cog a person who plays a minor part in a large organization, activity, etc.: He's just a small cog in the financial department. 1
verb without object slip a cog (of an electric motor) to move jerkily. 1
verb with object slip a cog to roll or hammer (an ingot) into a bloom or slab. 1
idioms slip a cog slip a cog, to make a blunder; err: One of the clerks must have slipped a cog. 1

before 1200

One of the 9% oldest English words

1200-50; Middle English cogge, probably < Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian kugg cog

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 89% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer