lube job

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformal

   A service for a car in which oil and grease are added to moving parts.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say a lube job or get a lube job; the plural is lube jobs.

   Patterns

   • get a lube job
   • give a car a lube job
   • a lube job and an oil change

   The mechanic said the car needs a lube job and an oil change.

   I got a lube job at the garage before our road trip.

   A basic lube job keeps the moving parts from wearing out too fast.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A quick act of applying lubricant to a machine or device.

   Grammar: Used for machines in general, not only cars; it is still informal and countable.

   Patterns

   • do a lube job on something
   • a quick lube job

   The bike chain was squeaking, so he did a quick lube job on it.

   The old sewing machine just needs a lube job.

Word forms

Common combinations

get a lube job

I need to get a lube job before winter.

a lube job and an oil change

The shop offers a lube job and an oil change for one price.

do a lube job on something

He did a lube job on the gate hinges.

a quick lube job

A quick lube job should take about twenty minutes.

Synonyms and how they differ

lubrication

Formal and technical; it names the process, while lube job names the service you buy or do.

grease job

Very close in meaning and also informal, but it stresses grease rather than oil.

service

Much broader; a service can include many checks, while a lube job is only the lubrication part.

Word family

lube noun

Informal short form for lubricant or lubrication.

lube verb

Informal verb meaning to put lubricant on something.

lubricant noun

A substance such as oil or grease used to reduce friction.

lubricate verb

Formal verb meaning to apply a lubricant.

Commonly confused: lube job or oil change? lube job or tune-up?

Practice

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