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]
-
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.
“Not a lot of people do,” she said, adding that that’s changing with a memorial in the works.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
We also discovered—without too much surprise—that he often seems to fundamentally misunderstand the works he treasures most deeply.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
Scottish Water said the works could only be carried out safely with a full road closure.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
The pieces were on loan from a Bucharest museum, whose head was promptly sacked for lending the works out in the first place.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
A cheeseburger, medium well with the works, a side of fries, and a cup of black coffee.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
