work over

verb

To improve a prototype, or first draft.

“He'll talk, once we work him over.”

Similar
polishreworkbeat upbeat
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Meanings

verbwork over (third-person singular simple present works over, present participle working over, simple past and past participle worked over)

present singular third person works over · participle present working over · participle past worked over · past worked over

  1. transitiveTo improve a prototype, or first draft.

    The estimated figures are not bad, but somebody will have to work them over.

    Synonyms: polish, rework

  2. idiomaticslangtransitiveTo physically attack in order to cause injury.

    He'll talk, once we work him over.

    Synonyms: beat up

  3. idiomaticslangtransitiveTo 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

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo improve a prototype, or first draft.

Similar
polishrework

verbTo physically attack in order to cause injury.

Similar
beat up

More synonyms by meaning

verbgive a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression

Similar
beatbeat up
Broader
actmove
Also see
beatbeat upmommickroughhouse

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

work over. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/work%20over

MLA

“work over.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/work%20over. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “work over,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/work%20over.

Source: work over on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.