[zahlman]

I always understood the "nail that sticks up" as analogous to a "tall poppy" rather than a "squeaking wheel". I.e. someone who is too visibly doing well in an environment where everyone is supposed to be oppressed by staying buried in the wood.

[tokai]

I never head that understanding of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I thought it was about the loudest/most obvious issues gets attention.

[zahlman]

It is. The second sentence is describing a "tall poppy". My point is that I think the author is comparing metaphors that don't make sense to compare.

[antonvs]

Isn't that the author's point?

> "But in one [metaphor], the object out of step gets beaten into submission, whereas the other gets its needs met and returns to functioning properly."