The sky is working up to some kind of storm.
•The weather is working up to something severe.
2. Fig. [for someone] to lead up to something. •You are working up to telling me something unpleasant, aren't you?
•I think I am working up to a good cry.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
work out at something — ˌwork ˈout (at sth) derived if sth works out at sth, you calculate that it will be a particular amount • + adj. It ll work out cheaper to travel by bus. Main entry: ↑workderived … Useful english dictionary
work around to something — ˌwork aˈround/ˈround to sth/sb derived to gradually turn a conversation towards a particular topic, subject, etc • It was some time before he worked around to what he really wanted to say. Main entry: ↑workderived … Useful english dictionary
work round to something — ˌwork aˈround/ˈround to sth/sb derived to gradually turn a conversation towards a particular topic, subject, etc • It was some time before he worked around to what he really wanted to say. Main entry: ↑workderived … Useful english dictionary
work up to something — ˌwork ˈup to sth derived to develop or move gradually towards sth, usually sth more exciting or extreme • The music worked up to a rousing finale. • I began by jogging in the park and worked up to running five miles a day. Main entry:… … Useful english dictionary
make light work of doing something — make light work of (doing) something phrase to do something very quickly and easily Willie Thorne made light work of his opponent to earn a place in the last 16. Thesaurus: to do something quickly and/or easilysynonym Main entry: light … Useful english dictionary
work around — ˌwork a ˈround ˌwork ˈround british [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they work around he/she/it works around present participle … Useful english dictionary
make light work of doing something — make light work of (something/doing something) to do something quickly and easily. Heather made light work of painting the walls. You made light work of that chocolate cake! (= you ate it quickly) … New idioms dictionary
make hard work of doing something — make hard work of (something/doing something) to do something in a way which makes it more difficult than it should be. He s really making hard work of that ironing … New idioms dictionary
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 … Dictionary of American idioms
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 … Dictionary of American idioms
work — work1 W1S1 [wə:k US wə:rk] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(do a job for money)¦ 2¦(do your job)¦ 3¦(help)¦ 4¦(do an activity)¦ 5¦(try to achieve something)¦ 6¦(machine/equipment)¦ 7¦(be effective/successful)¦ 8¦(have an effect)¦ 9¦(art/style/literature)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
