work

work (one's way) into something

1. . to get into something tight or small gradually and with effort. He worked himself into the dark corner and hid there for a while. The mouse worked into the crack and got stuck.

2. . to get more deeply involved in something gradually. I don't quite understand my job. I'll work my way into it gradually. Fred worked into the daily routine gradually.

work (one's way) through something

1. . Lit. to work to earn money to pay the bills while one is in college, medical school, law school, etc. I worked my way through college as a waiter.

2. . Fig. to progress through something complicated. I spent hours working my way through the tax forms. I worked through the forms very slowly.

3. . Fig. to struggle through an emotional trauma. When she had finally worked through her grief, she was able to function normally again. Larry worked through the pain.

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See:

A woman's work is never done all in a day's work all work and no play All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy at work be a nasty piece of work be all in a day's work build up a head of steam close enough for government work devil finds work for idle hands to do dirty work do dirty work do the dirty work donkey work drive into the ground fight like hell get down to business get up a thirst go like clockwork go to work grunt work gum up gum up the works have work cut out have work cut out for I've got work to do in an ivory tower in the works It is not work that kills, but worry just another day Keep up the good work lick of work little work never hurt anyone make hard work of make light work of make short work of Many hands make light work Nice work if you can get it!

off one's work is cut out for one out of work perform miracles pile the work on put a spanner in the works put in a hard day at work set to work shoot the works slog guts out spill the beans take off from work The devil finds work for idle hands the works Things will work out throw a monkey wrench in the works Time works wonders turn out wear fingers to the bone whole works work work a treat work against work against the clock work among work around work around to work arse off work as work at work away work both ways work down work fingers to the bone work for work hand in glove with work into work itself out

work like a beaver work like a charm work like a dog work like magic work magic work of art work off work on work oneself into a lather work oneself up work oneself up into work out work out for the best work out of work over work socks off work some fat off work tail off work the problem work things out work through work through channels work to work together work toward work under work up work up a sweat work up into work up to work way along work with work wonders worked up works works for me