Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[work one’s fingers to the bone]{v. phr.} To work very hard. •/"I have to work my fingers to the bone for a measly pittance of a salary," Fred complained./

[workout]{n.} A physical exercise session. •/My morning workout consists of sit-ups and push-ups./

[work out]{v. phr.} 1. To find an answer to. •/John worked out his math problems all by himself./ •/Mary had trouble getting along with her roommate, but they worked it out./ Compare: FIGURE OUT. 2. To plan; develop. •/Mary worked out a beautiful design for a sweater./ •/Alice worked out a new hair-do./ 3. To accomplish; arrange. •/The engineers worked out a system for getting electricity to the factory./ 4. To be efficient; get results. •/If the traffic plan works out, it will be used in other cities too./ 5. To exercise. •/John works out in the gym two hours every day./

[work over]{v. phr.}, {slang} To beat someone up very roughly in order to intimidate him or extort payment, etc. •/Matthew was worked over by the hoodlums in the park right after midnight./

[work through channels]{v. phr.} To go through the proper procedures and officials. •/At a state university everybody must work through channels to get things done./

[work up]{v.} 1. To stir up; arouse; excite. •/I can’t work up any interest in this book./ •/He worked up a sweat weeding the garden./ 2. To develop; originate. •/He worked up an interesting plot for a play./

[work upon] See: WORK ON.

[world] See: COME UP IN THE WORLD or RISE IN THE WORLD, DEAD TO THE WORLD, FOR ALL THE WORLD, IN A WORLD OF ONE’S OWN or IN A WORLD BY ONESELF, IN THE WORLD, LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, NOT FOR THE WORLD, ON TOP OF THE WORLD or SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OUT OF THIS WORLD, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, THIRD WORLD.

[world is one’s oyster] Everything is possible for you; the world belongs to you; you can get anything you want. •/When John won the scholarship, he felt as though the world was his oyster./ •/The rich girl acts as though the world is her oyster./

[world on one’s shoulders] See: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

[world on one’s back] See: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

[world without end]{adv. phr.}, {literary} Endlessly; forever; eternally. •/Each human being has to die, but mankind goes on world without end./

[worlds apart]{adj. phr.} Completely different; in total disagreement. •/Jack and Al never agree on anything; they are worlds apart in their thinking./

[worm] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM.

[worm in]{v. phr.} To insinuate oneself; penetrate gradually. •/By cultivating the friendship of a few of the prominent merchants, Peter hoped to worm his way into that exclusive elite of export magnates./

[worm may turn] Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated. •/Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn./

[warm out]{v. phr.} To learn through persistent questioning; draw out from. •/I finally wormed out of her the reason she broke off her engagement to Larry./

[worn to a frazzle]{adj. phr.} To be fatigued; be exhausted. •/I’m worn to a frazzle cooking for all these guests./