Dictionary

make short work of en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To do (a task) relatively quickly or easily.
   • [...] a cab ride in one of the Birmingham Type 2 diesels over the Mallaig extension demonstrated what short work—and what a transformation of the engineman's lot—these machines make of the gradients by comparison with their steam predecessors. 1962 September, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—1”, in Modern Railways, page 164:
   • A good electric screwdriver will make short work of the disassembly process.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To deal with or overcome (someone or something) quickly and without difficulty.
   • You impertinent ruffian! You impertinent ruffian! I'll make short work of you! 1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “Counterparts”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 111:
   • I arrange some of my things and sit back, making short work of the chocolate bars supplied to passengers. 2023 February 8, Greg Morse, “Crossing the border... by Sleeper”, in RAIL, number 976, page 42:
   • With what you have learned from your drivers' education course so far, you should be able to make short work of an enemy aircraft. 2021 March 19, Bosnian Ape Society, 5:23 from the start, in Is Your Car Safe From Supermaneuverable Air-Defense Fighter Aircraft?, archived from the original on 07 Aug 2022:
   • "There was desperate characters here, but the vigilantes made short work of 'em." 1897, Maynard Barbour, chapter 26, in The Award of Justice:

Forms

Relateds

short shrift

Synonyms

make mincemeat of · make quick work of · make light work of

Translations (10)

es dar buena cuenta de (make (a task) quicker or easier) · pl szybko się uporać (deal with or overcome (someone or something) quickly and without difficulty) · fr ne faire qu'une bouchée de (deal with or overcome (someone or something) quickly and without difficulty) · es comer el mandado (make (a task) quicker or easier) · fi helpottaa (make (a task) quicker or easier) · fi nopeuttaa (make (a task) quicker or easier) · pl przyspieszyć robotę (make (a task) quicker or easier) · is gera sér lítið fyrir (make (a task) quicker or easier) · fi hoitaa alta pois (deal with or overcome (someone or something) quickly and without difficulty) · pl przyspieszać robotę (make (a task) quicker or easier)