trickle

Related to trickle: trickle charger, Trickle charging

trickle away

1. Of a liquid, to flow out or away in drops or a thin stream. As the ice sculpture melted, it began tricking away into the grass. After dropping the jug, he just watched helplessly as all the wine trickled away.
2. To slowly disappear, dissipate, or become lost. As the clock ticks down, the team's hopes of reaching the playoffs continues to trickle away. Once last of our cash reserves trickles away, we'll have to file for bankruptcy.
See also: away, trickle

trickle down

1. Of a liquid, to flow or seep downward in drops or a thin stream. As the ice cream melted, it began tricking down Billy's arm. After dropping the jug, he just watched helplessly as all the wine trickled down the steps of the porch.
2. To distribute, pass, or diffuse to people lower on a hierarchical structure. The famous economical model posits that, should the wealthy be allowed to make as much money as possible, it will trickle down to everyone else in society. You're deluding yourself if you think power within the company is going to trickle down to you just because you're regional manager now.
See also: down, trickle

trickle in

1. Of a liquid, to flow or seep in(to something) in drops or a thin stream. I thought I had waterproofed the windows, but rain keeps trickling in. He noticed seawater trickling into the hull of the boat.
2. To slowly enter or become available. Students were still trickling in nearly 15 minutes after the lecture began. Once we get a bit of cash trickling in, we can start buying better equipment.
See also: trickle

trickle out (of something or some place)

1. Of a liquid, to flow, seep, or leak out (of something) in drops or in a thin stream. Aw man, water has started trickling out through a crack on the side of my water bottle. A strange-looking, foul-smelling liquid trickled out of the ancient sarcophagus.
2. Of people, to exit (from some place) gradually and in small numbers. Students began trickling out of the auditorium after the presentation was finished. I hate being the one to close up the concert hall. It's nearly midnight and people are only starting to trickle out.
3. Of some resource, especially money, to be exhausted or depleted gradually over time. It's been worrying seeing my meager savings trickle out as I search for a job. A consultant was brought in to help the company figure out places where funds are trickling out of their account.
4. Of some resource, to be released or become available (from something or some place) gradually and in small amounts. News about the CEO's replacement has been trickling out, but many are frustrated that the company hasn't been more forthright with the information. So far additional funding for our project has only trickled out of the head office, so we've been constrained in what we've been able to accomplish.
See also: out, something, trickle

trickle through

1. Of a liquid, to flow through something in drops or a thin stream. I thought I had waterproofed the windows, but rain keeps trickling through them. Wine trickled through a tiny crack on the bottom of the jug.
2. To move through something or some place very slowly or a few at a time. People trickled through the door throughout the evening, and we actually had a decent crowd by the end of the night. News has only trickled through so far.
See also: through, trickle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

trickle away

[for a liquid] to seep or dribble away. All the water trickled away down the drain. After the last of the spilled milk had trickled away, Timmy began to cry.
See also: away, trickle

trickle down

 (to someone or something)
1. Lit. [for a liquid] to seep or dribble downward to reach someone or something. The water trickled down the wall to the floor. It trickled down very slowly.
2. Fig. [for something] to be distributed to someone or something in little bits at a time. The results of the improved economy trickled down to people at lower-income levels. Information about what happened finally trickled down to me.
See also: down, trickle

trickle in

 (to something)
1. Lit. [for a liquid] to seep or dribble into something or a place. Some of the rainwater trickled into my car through a leak. It trickled in during the night.
2. Fig. [for someone or something] to come into something or a place, a few at a time. The audience trickled into the hall little by little. They trickled in over a period of an hour or more.
See also: trickle

trickle out

 (of something)
1. Lit. [for a liquid] to leak or dribble out of something or a place. The oil trickled out of the engine little by little. It trickled out and made a puddle on the floor.
2. Fig. [for someone or something] to go out of something or a place, a few at a time. The dissatisfied members of the audience trickled out of the theater three and four at a time. They trickled out as the evening wore on.
See also: out, trickle

trickle through

 (something)
1. Lit. [for a liquid] to seep through something. The water trickled through the cracked windowpane. They taped the glass, but the water trickled through anyway.
2. Fig. [for someone or something] to move through something little by little. The people trickled through the door into the store in far smaller numbers than we had expected. They trickled through very slowly.
See also: through, trickle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

trickle down

v.
To diffuse downward through some hierarchical structure: The sociology professor believed that money rarely trickles down from the owners of capital to the workers who toil in the factories.
See also: down, trickle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • drain away
  • die away
  • are we away
  • Are we away?
  • away
  • draw away
  • do away with
  • do away with (someone, something, or oneself)
  • draw away from (someone or something)
  • dwindle away
References in periodicals archive
"There is a trickle down effect of energy prices through all goods and services," said Kenneth McCarthy, an economist at Cushman & Wakefield.
Industry welcomes job figures
So, finally trickle down became clear-as the rest of us were getting squeezed mercilessly at the gas pump, profits were trickling down into the coffers of the oil companies.
Trickle my fancy
making our customers more profitable, helping them make theirs more profitable and reap the trickle down effect.
Vincent J. Rogusky
'I thought there would just be a trickle, but we are swamped.
Noted & quoted
Multilateral lending agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, too, often preach the need for open-market prosperity to trickle down to the masses.
Something stinks
A kind of nonnarrative post-travelogue, the work is at times meandering and slowly paced, as Ottinger casually films the towns and landscapes that trickle endlessly by her car window, and at times intense and tautly focused, as she carefully shoots unexpected examples of Art Nouveau architecture, long-abandoned Jewish areas, and the market and communal life of small towns and neighborhoods.
Ulrike Ottinger: Renaissance Society
Virgin producers are expected to seek more increases in 2004, which will trickle down to recycled resins.
Recycled resin prices remain strong
Unable to support his family on the trickle of customers who visit his farm, Calvin Cassowary accepts the offer of Gallinipper Foods to equip him with high-tech equipment in exchange for buying his eggs.
Levandoski, Rob. Fresh eggs, a novel
It's only a matter of time before HIPAA guidelines trickle down and are required for all firms handling confidential private data.
A giant HIPAA: new guidelines reach far beyond health care industry. (2003 Technology & Business Resource Guide: Privacy Protection)
I would imagine there will be a steady trickle of people coming in.
Special area to think of troops
Throughout 2003, the negative effect will trickle down through the Indonesian economy as an estimated 8 million tourism-related workers are impacted.
INDONESIAN HIGH-END SPENDING DECLINES
WASHINGTON -- Now that the stream of breaking news of clergy sex abuse has slowed to a trickle, some accused priests have been moved to fight back.
Clergy sex-abuse backlash. (News)
They are wise to promote dialogue among religious leaders with the hope that it will both modify doctrines and trickle down to the congregations, perhaps to re-kindle a sense of purpose around a relevant and current crisis.
Save the earth, not just souls. (E Word)
OTTAWA -- Social service agencies are experiencing a trickle down effect following cuts made last June by the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), said a draft report by Ottawa's People Services department.
Home care cuts "trickle down" on Ottawa social services. (Disability)
Some of the manufacturer's recommendations, he said, include putting the vehicle on blocks, running the engine periodically, and maintaining a trickle charge for the electronics as required.
MTMC seeks single contract for POV storage