worked over; working over; works over
Definition of work over
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 for work over
Synonyms
- bash,
- baste,
- bat,
- batter,
- beat,
- belabor,
- belt,
- birch,
- bludgeon,
- buffet,
- bung up,
- club,
- curry,
- do,
- drub,
- fib
- [British],
- flog,
- hammer,
- hide,
- lace,
- lambaste
- (or 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
- (or whap),
- whup
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Cite this Entry
“Work over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20over. Accessed 17 May. 2022.
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Time Traveler for work over
The first known use of work over was in 1832
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