The phrase "oils the works" is often used to describe the act of making something function smoothly and efficiently. However, there are several synonyms that can be used instead of this phrase. One such synonym is "greases the wheels", which means to make things run smoothly or to help a process move forward. Another synonym is "lubricates the gears", which implies the act of applying lubricant to machinery to help it function smoothly. Other synonyms that can be used instead of "oils the works" include "smooths the way", "facilitates", "eases", and "expedites". All of these synonyms can be used in different contexts to convey the same meaning as the original phrase, depending on the situation and application.