the squeaky wheel gets the oil

the squeaky wheel gets the oil

proverb The person complaining or protesting the loudest or most frequently is the one who will receive the most attention from others. My sister makes a point of writing letters of complaint to businesses whenever she has an issue with their service, and nine times out of ten, she's rewarded with some kind of discount or gift. I guess it's true, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
See also: get, oil, squeaky, wheel
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the squeaky wheel gets the ˈgrease/ˈoil

(American English) used to say that a person who complains or talks a lot gets most attention: In politics, the squeaky wheel gets the grease so it is vital for consumers to speak up and be heard. It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil, but what about the shy student?
See also: get, grease, oil, squeaky, wheel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • Caesar's wife must be above suspicion
  • a man is judged by the company he keeps
  • a man is known by the company he keeps
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
References in periodicals archive
We can only hope that these people are a very small minority and that the adage, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil" holds true and that they are not reflective of the thinking of the majority.
The challenge for bipartisanship
"I understand the squeaky wheel gets the oil and we're a very squeaky wheel," Kovach says.
New PVA leaders
The fact that the Worcester Public Schools will be able to hire more teachers and school nurses for the next school year is a textbook example of how the squeaky wheel gets the oil at City Hall.
Education lobby gets the grease; Squeaky wheel spurs City Hall
It may be an old cliche, but it's still a good one: The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Squeak, moan, groan, cajole and coddle until the world makes sense.
What Lies Beneath
"The squeaky wheel gets the oil. I would consider it my primary obligation."
Three-way rematch in LCC Zone 1 race
There is an old saying that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. You got a squeak?
Be a good consumer
This may not be the preferred method to address such an issue, yet this example demonstrates that "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." Those companies that are not complacent and are proactive in their efforts to bring speed to their collections activities end up on the top of the pile to get paid and the rest wait.
Revenue Chain excellence--using speed as a best practice. (Business Credit Selected Topic)
It's well known that the squeaky wheel gets the oil at Worcester City Hall, and in the case of the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association and the Brown Square Crime Watch, they may end up getting a public hearing they are looking for.
Can neighborhood groups squeeze water out of CSX?