“oil the wheels”别理解成“给轮胎上点油”，其正确的含义是使顺利进行；促进。

【例句】
Credit cards oiled the wheels of the consumer boom by allowing us to buy what we want, when we want.
信用卡让我们能够让我们购买想要的东西，从而促进了消费热潮。

An aid programme was established to oil the wheels of economic reform in the region.
制定了一项援助计划，以使该地区的经济改革得以顺利进行。