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!

词组	wheel within a wheel
释义	wheel within a wheel 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!
随便看	so much so so much so that so much the so much the better so much the better/worse so much the worse so much the worse for so much the worse (for someone or something) son so near (and) yet so far so near and yet so far song song and dance song and dance, (to give someone) a songbook songsheet son of a biscuit son of a biscuit eater son of a bitch set someone up for something set (something) against (something) set (something) apart (for something) set (something) at rest set (something) down in black and white set (something) down in writing