Approaching or expected to arrive soon, typically referring to projects, products, or events in development.
This metaphor originates from oil and gas pipeline systems where materials flow through pipes toward their destination. It entered business jargon in the mid-20th century to describe the flow of projects through development stages toward completion.
The brilliance of this metaphor is how it suggests both inevitability and momentum - like oil flowing through a pipeline, these projects are already in motion and will eventually reach their destination. It creates a sense of anticipation mixed with the reassuring predictability of industrial processes.
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