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Fifth wheel   /fɪfθ wil/   Listen
Fifth wheel

noun
1.
Someone or something that is unwanted and unneeded.  Synonym: deadwood.
2.
An extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle.  Synonym: spare.
3.
A steering bearing that enables the front axle of a horse-drawn wagon to rotate.





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"Fifth wheel" Quotes from Famous Books



... now determined to do my own utmost to minimise the dangers, to be a real help to Raffles in the act of altruistic depravity to which he had committed himself, and not merely a fifth wheel to his dashing chariot. Accordingly I went into solemn training for the event before us: a Turkish bath on the Saturday, a quiet Sunday between Mount Street and the club, and most of Monday lying like a log in cold-blooded preparation for the night's work. And when night ...
— Mr. Justice Raffles • E. W. Hornung


Words linked to "Fifth wheel" :   spare, redundance, deadwood, car wheel, redundancy, bearing


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