the works
Idioms-
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]
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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]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company, which uses hydraulic fracturing technology to tap the earth’s heat, now has larger projects in the works, including one in Utah that is slated to start producing power this year.
The second series of the BBC thriller reached its dramatic finale on 1 February, with Cornwell revealing a third series is already in the works.
From BBC
Many of the works are set in Maharashtra, where roughly 37,485 square kilometers are now open grasslands.
From Science Daily
Their first workshop is still in the works and Bolger said the participants' feedback had built her confidence to teach - an experience that is "completely new" for her.
From BBC
Translink said grouping the works into fewer closure periods helps protect the safety and reliability of the rail network while reducing the overall impact on passengers.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
