tick over

• • (内燃机等松开传动装置)作慢车转动(或运转)；空转：

    He allowed the engine to tick over for 5 minutes to make it warm up gradually.

    他让发动机空转5分钟使其逐渐预热。

  • [口语] (团体、企业等)接近停滞；(生活等)勉强过得去，勉强维持；(事业等)进展缓慢；(人)平淡地过活；平平淡淡：

    His business is just ticking over.

    他的生意勉强过得去。

    Our sales are ticking over nicely this month.

    我们本月的销售情况还可以。

  • 运行；进行；起作用：

    The machine ticks over very well.

    机器运转良好。

    Everything is ticking over smoothly.

    一切进展顺利。