Ir sobre ruedas

to go smoothly; **to go smoothly**; **to go well**; **to be going like clockwork**; **to run smoothly**; **to be going swimmingly**; **to be plain sailing**

Ir sobre ruedas means to go smoothly, to be going very well, or to progress without difficulties.

It is normally used in the construction:

Ir sobre ruedas.

It can describe a project, a plan, an event, a relationship or practically any situation that is progressing easily and successfully.

• a project is progressing well
• something is developing without problems
• an event is going according to plan
• negotiations are going smoothly
• a relationship is going well
• a process is moving forward easily

The expression is based on the obvious advantage of wheels: an object that moves on wheels can travel much more easily than one that has to be dragged along the ground.

The metaphor therefore associates movement on wheels with progress that is easy, rapid and free of obstacles.

The most common form is:

Ir sobre ruedas.

It can be used with practically any subject:

El negocio va sobre ruedas.

Las obras van sobre ruedas.

El curso va sobre ruedas.

Todo va sobre ruedas.

It can also be used in the negative:

Esto no va sobre ruedas.

→ This isn't going smoothly.

Spanish has several expressions based on smooth movement to describe successful progress:

• Ir sobre ruedas → to go smoothly.
• Ir viento en popa → to be going very well.
• Ir como la seda → to go smoothly.
• Ir como un tiro → to progress very quickly.
• Ir como la espuma → to rise or grow rapidly.

The metaphor in ir sobre ruedas is particularly intuitive: when something is on wheels, it encounters much less resistance and therefore moves forward easily.

Do not normally translate:

Todo va sobre ruedas.

as:

Everything is going on wheels.

Instead:

Everything is going smoothly.

Everything is running smoothly.

Everything is going like clockwork.