at work

Slang Dictionary

work (oneself) definition


  1. tv.
    to work very hard and sweat very much. (In the way that a horse works up a lather.) : Don't work yourself up into a lather. We don't need to finish this today.
  2. tv.
    to get excited or angry. (An elaboration of work (oneself) up to.) : Now, now, don't work yourself up into a lather.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Slang Dictionary

work (so) definition


  1. tv.
    to threaten, intimidate, or beat someone. : Bruno had worked over Terry, and Sam knew that this was no idle threat.
  2. tv.
    to give someone's body a thorough examination or treatment. : The doctors worked her over to the tune of $1,500 but couldn't find anything wrong with her.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

at work

  1. Engaged in a job or other activity, as in The contractor is hard at work on the new building, or The little boy was fascinated to see the washing machine at work. [Early 1600s]

  2. At one's office or other place of business, as in Is it all right if I telephone you at work? [Late 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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