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

In a virtual interview from his new workshop in Florence where he was surrounded by his work over the past two-plus decades, Reid said that as much as his business has evolved, there have also been some constants. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 11 Oct. 2024

Miranda works closely with her local Boys and Girls Club and works over the summer as a tutor for the Indy Summer Learning Labs, but goes the extra mile for her students by helping them with things like filling out college applications and even throwing graduation parties. —Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Sep. 2024

Patton will play Lou Smith, a legend among law enforcement, who has worked over 150 homicide cases in Boulder Springs. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2024

Her career took off from there, and she's steadily worked over the past three-and-a-half decades in hits like Boogie Nights and The Hangover. —Gillian Telling, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2