work over

verb

worked over; working over; works over

transitive verb

1

: to subject to thorough examination, study, or treatment

shelf stock worked over by shoppers

2

: to do over : rework

saved the play by working the first act over

3

: to beat up or manhandle with thoroughness

My boxing opponent worked me over in the ring.

Synonyms

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• hide
• lace
• lambaste
• lambast
• lash
• lather
• lick
• maul
• mess (up)
• paddle
• pelt
• pommel
• pound
• pummel
• punch out
• rough (up)
• slate
• slog
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• thresh
• thump
• tromp
• wallop
• whale
• whip
• whop
• whap
• whup

Examples of work over in a Sentence

the mob boss's thugs really worked him over

Recent Examples on the Web

Her work over the years has at various times earned a Peabody Award, an Emmy and a Loeb Award. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 May 2024

As a result, lawmakers are banking that voters will trust their work over the promises of initiatives 50 and 108. —Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 10 May 2024

Christian reported Wednesday that Newfields has purchased $2.6 million of work over the past three years by artists who are Black, Indigenous, of color and underrepresented. —Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 10 May 2024

In fact, Hubble Network says its technology can work over off-the-shelf Bluetooth chips through a software update, rather than any hardware change. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 6 May 2024

His take on the classic turns up the gothic drama dial with a very Hans Zimmer Interstellar-style intro, before transitioning into a full on deep house production that still maintains the size and grandiosity that’s defined so much of the producer’s work over the last 10-plus years. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

During his eight years as governor — he was reelected in 1982 with 64% of the vote — Graham developed a reputation for late hours, early morning staff calls, and a preference for hard work over back-slapping. —David Smiley, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024

The three runs in the sixth amounted to as many as the bullpen had allowed in 12 innings of work over the first four games of this trip, a 2.25 ERA. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024

On Friday, the newspaper published this powerful front page: an empty space where all of Evan's work over the last year should have been. —Nbc Universal, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2