work over

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to do again; repeat

2. (intr, preposition) to examine closely and thoroughly

3. slang,  (tr, adverb) to assault or thrash

Idioms and Phrases

Beat up, as in The secret police worked him over and he's never been the same. [c. 1920]

Example Sentences

No matter how much your husband is away or how much he prioritizes work over his family, she instructed the crowd, you can’t “make him feel guilty.”

From Salon

The same reason you could call this collaboration obvious is what makes it a concise thesis on the potency of Anderson’s work over the last 11 years.

From Los Angeles Times

I just don’t want to be worked over, prodded into being charmed.

From Salon

The union also rejected an order by the Canadian government to enter binding arbitration and return to work over the weekend, accusing it of "caving to corporate pressure".

From BBC

Healey said more than 200 military planners from the coalition had been working over the last few months "doing detailed planning for the point of a ceasefire".

From BBC

Related Words

• advise 
• assure 
• cajole 
• coax 
• enlist 
• entice 
• exhort 
• get 
• impress 
• incline 
• induce 
• influence 
• prompt 
• satisfy 
• sway 
• urge 
• woo