work on

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to persuade or influence or attempt to persuade or influence

Idioms and Phrases

Also, work upon. Exercise influence on, as in If you work on him, he might change his mind, or She always worked upon their feelings by pretending to be more ill than she really was. [Early 1600s]

Related Words

• agitate 
• bore 
• bother 
• displease 
• disturb 
• exasperate 
• fire up 
• gall 
• irk 
• peeve 
• perturb 
• rile 
• trouble 
• turn off 
• vex 
• worry