- parts of a machine consisting of wheels and springs
- clockwork toys (= toys that you wind up with a key)
- working with clockwork (= complete) precision
Oxford Collocations DictionaryClockwork is used before these nouns:- toy
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Idioms
See clockwork in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarygo/run like clockwork
- to happen according to plan; to happen without difficulties or problems
- The operation went like clockwork.
(as) regular as clockwork
- very regularly; happening at the same time in the same way
- He is home by six every day, regular as clockwork.
More Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles in idioms- (as) bald as a coot
- (as) blind as a bat
- (as) bright as a button
- (as) bold as brass
- as busy as a bee
- as clean as a whistle
- (as) dead as a/the dodo
- (as) deaf as a post
- (as) dull as ditchwater
- (as) fit as a fiddle
- as flat as a pancake
- (as) good as gold
- (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare
- (as) miserable/ugly as sin
- as old as the hills
- (as) pleased/proud as Punch
- as pretty as a picture
- (as) regular as clockwork
- (as) quick as a flash
- (as) safe as houses
- (as) sound as a bell
- (as) steady as a rock
- (as) thick as two short planks
- (as) tough as old boots
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clockwork