Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

work over en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To improve a prototype, or first draft.
    • The estimated figures are not bad, but somebody will have to work them over.
  2. (idiomatic, slang, transitive) To physically attack in order to cause injury.
    • He'll talk, once we work him over.
  3. (idiomatic, slang, transitive) To subject (a person) to a severe scolding, interrogation, beating, etc.
    • The desk sergeant worked him over pretty good and finally turned him over to the detective squad. 2007, David Rogers, The Printer's Devil, page 175:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
works over Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
working over Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
worked over Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
worked over Tense=Past lexicographic

Synonyms

polish (improve) · beat up (physically attack) · rework (improve)