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What does "work" mean?

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In addition to the idioms beginning with word, also see actions speak louder than words; at a loss (for words); at a word; break one's word; eat one's words; famous last words; fighting words; four-letter word; from the word go; get a word in edgewise; give the word; go back on (one's word); good as one's word; hang on someone's words; have a word with; have words with; in brief (a word); in other words; in so many words; keep one's word; last word; leave word; man of his word; mark my words; mince matters (words); mum's the word; not breathe a word; not open one's mouth (utter a word); of few words; picture is worth a thousand words; play on words; put in a good word; put into words; put words in someone's mouth; swallow one's words; take someone at his or her word; take the words out of someone's mouth; true to (one's word); weasel word; weigh one's words.

See work in WNW Idioms

at work

working or engaged in work
operating unseen forces were at work on the economy

get the works

â

Slang to be the victim of extreme measures

give someone the works

â Slang

to murder someone
to subject someone to an ordeal, either maliciously or jokingly

in the works

Informal in the process of being planned or done

make short work of

or make quick work of

to deal with or dispose of quickly

out of work

without a job; unemployed

shoot the works

â Slang

to risk everything on one chance or play
to make a supreme effort or attempt

the works

the working parts or mechanism (of a watch, clock, etc.)
â Informal
1. all possible accessories, extras, etc.
2. everything that can be included
  usually the whole works

work in

to introduce or insert
to be introduced or inserted

work off

to get rid of or dissipate, as by exertion
â to pay (a debt or obligation) by work rather than with money

work on

to influence
to try to persuade

work out

to make its way out, as from being embedded
to exhaust (a mine, etc.)
work off (sense )
to bring about by work; accomplish
to solve
to calculate
to result in some way things did not work out as planned
to add up to a total (at a specified amount)
to develop; elaborate
to put into practice
to engage in a training session or program for physical fitness or athletic skill

work over

to work or do again
â Informal to subject to harsh or cruel treatment, as by beating, torture, etc.

work up

â to make one's (or its) way up; advance; rise
to manipulate, mix, etc. into a specified object or shape
to develop; elaborate
to acquire knowledge of or skill at
to arouse; excite
Slang to bring about or cause (a sweat) by vigorous activity

See work in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

at work

Engaged in labor; working: at work on a new project.
In operation: inflationary forces at work in the economy.

in the works

In preparation; under development: has a novel in the works.

out of work

Without a job; unemployed.

put in work

To perform labor or duties, as on a specified project: put in work on the plastering.

work both sides of the street

To engage in double-dealing; be duplicitous.

work like a charm

To function very well or have a very good effect or outcome.

work (one's) fingers to the bone

To labor extremely hard; toil or travail.

Learn more about work

» work definition

» work synonyms

» WORK abbreviations & acronyms

» work Culture

» work science

» work sentence examples

» work quote examples

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work (synonyms)

WORK (abbreviation)

work both sides of the street