work over

verb

worked over; working over; works over

transitive verb

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

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• hide
• lace
• lambaste
• 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
• whap
• whup

Examples of work over in a Sentence

the mob boss's thugs really worked him over

Recent Examples on the Web

Puni had his worst game as a pro. Jake Brendel was worked over again and again. —Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2024

Thank you so much for all your hard work over the years. —Jessie Yeung, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024

Context: Expanding access to ADUs has long been championed by Council President Amanda Sandoval, who worked over the past several years to provide neighborhood-wide rezoning to allow them. —Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024

Yet the 49ers have worked over Seattle both with and without McCaffrey. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2