the works

Idioms  

1. Everything, the full range of possibilities, as in He ordered a pizza with the works , or All right, tell me, give me the works on it . This usage derives from works in the sense of “a complete set of parts for a machine or mechanism.” [ Colloquial ; late 1800s]

2. A beating or other severe treatment. This usage is often put as give someone the works , as in They took him outside and gave him the works . [ Slang ; first half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

So far, there is no indication that unilateral U.S. military action is in the works, these people say, primarily because Mexican security officials have strong links to the top brass of U.S. law enforcement and armed forces.

From The Wall Street Journal

The works will increase capacity to up to 150 million passengers per year, according to Heathrow.

From Barron's

Back in the press room after his surprise Golden Globes win for supporting movie actor, Stellan Skarsgård kept mostly mum when asked for an update on the reported “Mamma Mia!” sequel in the works.

From Los Angeles Times

Plans for a federal law to protect critical infrastructure have been in the works for years but were only presented to parliament in November.

From BBC

Polymarket has been quiet about its view of this trader, whose profit came at the expense of other traders, who didn’t know that the Maduro operation was in the works.

From Slate

Related Words

• all-inclusive
• broad
• complete
• encyclopedic
• exhaustive
• extensive
• far-reaching
• full
• global
• overall
• sweeping
• thorough