to work up
50
3.9
- phrasal verb
- /wɜrk ʌp/
:
elaborar
- I'll be in Washington working up a report on the Arizona fiasco.
Examples
-
We're working up a composite likeness.
-
Get him to work up a list of behaviourists for us to talk to.
-
Congress then worked up and passed the CARES Act.
-
You have to work your way up to pro ball around here.
-
Tell Rick to work up a story
-
If the art is clear, I work up a preliminary draft.
Fiction book (2000) -
I'm just working up some new theories on the Judge Trent case.
-
So, why don't I work up an estimate for you and if you like it, you know, I can come back around and we can get you set up.
-
Diane, work up a psych profile on Toronkowski.
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The team needs to work up a detailed plan before the presentation next week.
Synonyms
∞
2.7
To think of an idea or plan
950
2.8
To find a solution or plan by thinking carefully
97
3.7
To prepare and write official papers such as contracts or wills
48
3.2
To make up an idea, plan, or excuse
38
3.9
To think of a new or unusual idea
How Developed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense of emotions building or intensifying is partly derivable from combining 'work' (to develop or produce gradually) with 'up' (to increase/intensify), so a learner could infer it involves feelings growing. However, the specific idiomatic use meaning 'become agitated/upset' is a conventionalized phrasal-verb sense and not fully predictable from the parts, so it would likely require prior exposure for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Work up shows a picture of work and up: someone shaping rough notes and lifting them into a finished plan, so it means 'to develop or produce something'.