wheels within wheels

wheel within a wheel

Something that is very complex and perhaps overly complicated. The phrase originated in the Bible. I can't figure out how to turn off this alarm system—it's really a wheel within a wheel.
See also: wheel, within
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wheels within wheels

Complex interacting processes, agents, or motives, as in It's difficult to find out just which government agency is responsible; there are wheels within wheels . This term, which now evokes the complex interaction of gears, may derive from a scene in the Bible (Ezekiel 1:16): "Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." [c. 1600]
See also: wheel, within
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

wheels within wheels

If you say that there are wheels within wheels in a situation, you mean that it is very complicated and there are many different things involved in it, all of which influence each another. Our culture is more complex than he knows. Wheels within wheels and hierarchies. There are wheels within wheels within wheels in the espionage game. Note: This expression comes from the Bible: `And their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.' (Ezekiel 1:16)
See also: wheel, within
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

wheels within wheels

used to indicate that a situation is complicated and affected by secret or indirect influences.
The image here is of the cogs found in pieces of intricate machinery.
See also: wheel, within
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(there are) ˌwheels within ˈwheels

used to describe a situation which is difficult to understand because it involves complicated or secret processes and decisions: In making political agreements there are always wheels within wheels. There are wheels within wheels in this organization — you never really know what’s going on.
See also: wheel, within
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

wheels within wheels

Complex motives or actions that interact with one another. This seemingly modern mechanistic term comes from the Old Testament of the Bible: “Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel” (Ezekiel 1:16). About the middle of the eighteenth century wheel became plural and has so remained. “There are wheels within wheels—permutations and combinations which they never hope to unravel,” wrote Francis Beeding (Eleven Were Brave, 1941).
See also: wheel, within
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • cat's cradle
  • have (one's)/a beady eye on (someone or something)
  • keep (one's)/a beady eye on (someone or something)
  • keep a beady eye on somebody/something
  • wonk
  • krudzu
  • kudzu plot
  • mumbo jumbo
  • artsy
  • Ooh, get you!
References in periodicals archive
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS So much on offer from highquality bikes to old favourites restored to former glory
BE-SPOKEFIRM; CLIVE MATTHEWS GAVE UP HIS STRESSFUL JOB TRAVELLING ABROAD AND WENT BACK TO HIS PASSION OF CYCLING TO SET UP A BUSINESS WITH CHARM
There are so many wheels within wheels moving in so many directions over the anti-Semitism row his head must be spinning.
Cornered Corbyn's feeling Field force
By and large, these matriarchies exist within the greater envelope of patriarchy, and their invisible enclaves form wheels within wheels that alternately run over, grind down, and interlock with the novel's characters.
Mother India
There are no mysterious wheels within wheels operating to keep the dam outside Diamer.
On Diamer, and distractions
Released last year, Penguin Cafe's latest album, The Imperfect Sea, sees Jeffes and cohorts expand on PCO's already rich musical palette, nestling covers of Simian Mobile Disco's repetitious Wheels Within Wheels and Franz Schubert by German electro pioneers Kraftwerk, alongside original material.
Composer's immersing himself in Cafe society; Life's never dull for Arthur Jeffes, founder of jazz group Penguin Cafe, who will be playing pieces from the group's new album live in concert. DAVE FREAK reports
Baffour Ankomah, who has followed events over the past few years from his perch in Zimbabwe, gives the insider's perspective on the wheels within wheels of the "coup that wasn't"
Wheels within wheels--the inside story
And the left-back went on to explain how wheels within wheels keep Boro's clean machine rolling on.
george reveals clean sheet secret
Byline: Robin Roberts Golygydd, Wheels Within Wheels
Ffatri Ford ac Ysgol Gyfun Maesteg yn dangos beth yn union y gall gwaith tim ei gyflawni
This album from comes on the heels of the wildly successful Wheels Within Wheels, which was released in spring of 2014.
New Album from Atlanta's Congregation Bet Haverim, Fire Flashing Up: Klezmer Dances for Strings, to be Released September 13
"They are wheels within wheels. When you host a horse race, or any other sports or business event, it brings people together and starts a dialogue.
Al Mutaiwee hails success of aACAysports diplomacy'
THERE are wheels within wheels as far as India's return to the Olympic fold is concerned but this time around, there seems to be positivity in the air.
IOA must amend constitution fast
She is also featured on Rory Gallagher's posthumous 2003 album Wheels Within Wheels.
Preview; MAIRE NI CHATHASAIGH AND CHRIS NEWMAN Sefton Park Palmhouse
But it''s not so, beyond your hopes and fears, There''s wheels within wheels and there''s spheres within spheres, Just the fact you''re here in this universe Is proof that even someone like you belongs, No matter what your score of rights and wrongs.
[c]POEM OF THE DAY
Restricting herself to Ireland for the first five years of her daughter Rachel's life, she wrote literary reviews and her autobiography, Wheels within Wheels (1979), before taking to the road with her new companion.
Lone ranger: at the age of 80, Dervla Murphy remains as impassioned and determined as ever. She sits down for a chat with Olivia Edward and talks travel, politics and Tony Blair
They have wheels within wheels within the Congress party, within the UPA, which have made sure that this constitutional amendment does not pass in the Lok Sabha," said Yechury.
Yechury backs BJP stand on Constitutional amendment