noun A cog is a toothed wheel or bar that engages with another toothed part to transmit motion in a machine.
preposition In this phrase, 'in' is a preposition that shows the relationship between 'cog' and 'machine'.
article The articles 'a' and 'the' are used before 'cog' and 'machine' to indicate that they are singular nouns.
Used to describe an individual who plays a small, but necessary role in a larger organization or system
Refers to a worker who performs a repetitive task as part of a larger production process
Describes a team member who contributes to the overall success of a project or goal
A writer may feel like a cog in the machine when working for a large publishing company, feeling like their individual contributions are not valued in the grand scheme of things.
A psychologist may feel like a cog in the machine when working in a large mental health facility, feeling like they are just one small part of a much larger system.
A software developer may feel like a cog in the machine when working on a large development team, feeling like their work is just a small piece of the overall project.
A teacher may feel like a cog in the machine when working in a large school district, feeling like their individual efforts are not making a significant impact on the education system as a whole.
An accountant may feel like a cog in the machine when working for a large accounting firm, feeling like their work is just one small part of the financial industry.