Page 454 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

work through channels

włrkŁlikeŁa hłrse to work veryŁhard.Ł work out for the best to end up in the
I’ve błen workng like a horse all dØy, and best possible way.Ł Don’t worry. Things
I’m tired. I’m too old to work like a will work out for the best. It seems bad
horse. I’d prefer to relØx more. now, but it’ll work out for the best.
włrkŁ one’ fingers to theŁbone to work włrkŁ someone ortsomething in to insert som-
veryŁhard.Ł I worked my fingers to the one orŁsomethingŁ(into aŁscłedule orŁa
bone so you children could have everything line).Ł The doctor’s schedule was very
you needed. Now look at the way you treat busy, but the nurse agreed to try to work
mł! I spłnt the dØy working my fingero me in. The mechanic had many cars to
to the bone, and now I want to relØx. fix, but he said he’d work my car in. T I’m
glad he could work in my car.
włrkŁ( one’ way)Łinto something to manag
to joinŁorŁbecome aŁmemberŁof some- włrkŁ someone ortsomething up 1. [with some-
thing.Ł(RefersŁto squezingŁinto some- one] to get someone readyŁforŁsomething,
thing.) Ann worked her wØy into the especiallyŁ medicalŁ treatment.Ł T The
club, and now she’s a młmber in good coach worked up the whole team before the
standng. Bob worked his way into the game. The doctor told the nurse to work
top management of the company. Mr. Frankln up for surgery. 2. [with
somłthing ] to create, cook, or arrang
włrkŁ one’ wayŁthroughŁcollege to hold a something.Ł T Bob is in the ktchen work-
jobŁ that paysŁ part of one’sŁ college ex- ing up dnner. Is there somłthing
penses.Ł Tom couldà’t głt a loan, so he planned for FridØy night, or should wł
had to work his way through college. I work somłthing up?
worked my way through collłge, and that
made collłge seem more valuØble to me. włrkŁ someone over to threaten,Łintimidate,
orŁbeat someone.Ł(Slang, especiallyŁcrim-
włrkŁ one’ wayŁup to advance inŁone’sŁjob inalŁslang.) I thought they were really
orŁposition,ŁfromŁthe beginningŁlevelŁto going to work me over, but they only asked
aŁhigherŁlevel.Ł I havłn’t alwØys błen a fłw questions. T The police worked over
presidłnt of this bank. I started as a teller Bill until he told where the money was
and worked my way up. If I work my hiddłn.
way up, can I be presidłnt of the bank?
włrkŁ something into somethingtelse to rub or
włrkŁon someone ortsomething 1. [with some- knead something into sàmething else.Ł
one] to try to convince someone about You should work more butter into the
something.Ł(Infàrmal.) We worked on dough błfore bakng the bread. Work
Tom for nearly an hour, but we couldà’t get this loŁion into your skin to make your
him to change his mnd. I’ll work oà sunburn stop hurting.
him for a while, and I’ll change his mnd.
2. [with someone] to give medicalŁtreat- włrkŁ something off to get rid of something,
mnt to somone. The dłntist was such as fat, by dàing physical exercise.Ł
working on Mary while I waited for her in Bob put on włight on his vacØtion and is
the other room. The surgeon worked on trying to work it off by swimmng regu-
the pØtient, trying to stop the bleedng. 3. larly. T Jane tried to work off her dłpres-
[with something] to repair, build,ŁorŁad- sion by plØying a game of tennis.
just something.Ł The carpłnter worked włrkŁ something out to settle a pràblm.
on the fłnce for three hours. Bill is out (Also literal.) It was a serious problem,
working on his car engine.
but we managed to work it out. T I’m glad
włrkŁout to do aŁprogramŁof exercise.Ł I we can work out our problłms without
have to work out every dØy in ordłr to kłep fighting.
healthy. Working out a lot gives me a big włrkŁ throughŁ channelð to try to get
appłtite.
somethingŁ dàne byŁ gàingŁ thràugh the
work out (all right) Go to turn out (all proper proceduresŁandŁprsàns.Ł(See alsà
right). go through channels.) You can’t ac-

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