Rube Goldberg machine
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Rube Goldberg machine
Where it comes from
Named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who drew many such machines in his comics.
noun Rube Goldberg machines
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A comical, overcomplicated machine which performs a simple task.
Similar: Heath Robinson
- Anything that is overly complicated. To be overly cynical myself, that is still the macro view. Littlefinger’s execution and the white walkers passing through the rubble of the Wall are just two observations that this enormous Rube Goldberg machine is running on time.
Translations
Every language
noun comically overcomplicated machine
| Español | Máquina de Rube Goldberg |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ルーブ・ゴールドバーグ・マシン, ピタゴラスイッチ pitagora suicchi, ピタゴラ装置 pitagora sōchi |
| 中文 | 魯布·戈德堡機械 /鲁布·戈德堡机械 |
| Français | usine à gaz |
| Deutsch | Rube-Goldberg-Maschine |
Talk about this word "Rube Goldberg machine." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/rube%20goldberg%20machine. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. Rube Goldberg machine. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/rube%20goldberg%20machine "Rube Goldberg machine." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/rube%20goldberg%20machine.Cite this
@misc{rube_goldberg_machine_2026,
title = {Rube Goldberg machine},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/rube%20goldberg%20machine},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
