Certainly! The phrase "tick over" is commonly used in British English, and it has a couple of meanings, particularly in relation to engines and everyday life.
"Tick over" (verb) primarily means to run an engine while it is not moving, or when it is idling. This means the engine is on, but the vehicle is not driving or doing any work.
You can use "tick over" when talking about cars, machines, or engines. It’s often used to describe a situation where an engine is running but not being used for driving or performing tasks.
In a broader sense, "tick over" can also refer to managing or maintaining a situation without making significant progress. For example, if someone is just getting by in their daily life without making big changes, you might say they are "ticking over."
While "tick over" mainly refers to engines, its metaphorical use can apply to various situations in life, such as finances or personal projects, where things are functioning but not progressing.
There aren’t direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "tick over," but it shares a similar feeling with phrases like "keep afloat" or "get by," which imply maintaining a state without making significant progress.
In summary, "tick over" is a versatile phrase mainly used to describe an engine running without movement, but it can also mean to maintain a situation without making significant changes.