In a tutorial, the instructor says:
We've greased the pan, now it's time to pour in the batter.
The tutorial is technical (IT), and has nothing to do with cooking, so what is the meaning of the metaphor, and what other idioms could have been used instead?
Best Answer
The metaphor is one of preparation. The act of "greasing the pan" has no real product; the result is simply a greased pan, which is useful only as a means to an end and is not an end in itself. However, it is a necessary step to perform prior to "pouring in the batter", which would generally be seen as a productive step (especially if the pan is pre-heated, as in a skillet for making pancakes).
Other metaphors include: