work on

work (up)on something

1. . to repair or tinker with something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) He's out in the kitchen, working upon his tax forms. He's working on his car.

2. . [for something] to have the desired effect on something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) This medicine should work well upon your cold. I hope it will work on your cold.

See also: work

References in classic literature	?		Idioms browser	?		Full browser	?
I do not know which to put first, the effect of Tuskegee's work on the Negro, or the effect on the attitude of the white man to the Negro. Up From Slavery by Washington, Booker T. View in context When my father started for himself, there were many men in Manchester who were willing to labor in this way, but they had no factory to work in, no machinery to work with, and no raw cotton to work on, simply because all this indispensable plant, and the materials for producing a fresh supply of it, had been appropriated by earlier comers. An Unsocial Socialist by Shaw, George Bernard View in context This was one of the speeches of the marchande de mode to Adrienne, and the dear girl repeated it in her mind, as she sat at work on me, without the slightest distrust of the heartless selfishness it so ill concealed. Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief by Cooper, James Fenimore View in context	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	Work Needed and Prospective Packages Work Negotiation Meeting Work Not Welfare work of adhesion work of art work of art work of art work of art Work of Breathing Work of Breathing Work of Breathing Patient Work of Breathing per Liter Work of Engineering Construction Work of Fracture Work of Literary Merit Work of Nasal Breathing Work of Shock Absorbers Work of Shock Absorbers Work of the Chariot Trust work of worrying work off work off work off work off work off work off Work office Work office Work office Work office work on Work on Hold Work on Line Work on Weekends work oneself into a lather work oneself into a sweat work oneself up work oneself up into Work Only When Needed Work Opportunities for Women in the Information Society Work Opportunity Credit Work Opportunity Credits Work Opportunity Program Work Opportunity Tax Credit Work order Work order Work order Work order Work Order & Work Accomplishment Record Work Order Age Work Order and Flow Chart Work Order Authorization Work Order Bin Work Order Code Work Order Control Work Order Control System Work Order Generator Work Order Generator System

References in classic literature

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I do not know which to put first, the effect of Tuskegee's work on the Negro, or the effect on the attitude of the white man to the Negro.

Up From Slavery by Washington, Booker T. View in context

When my father started for himself, there were many men in Manchester who were willing to labor in this way, but they had no factory to work in, no machinery to work with, and no raw cotton to work on, simply because all this indispensable plant, and the materials for producing a fresh supply of it, had been appropriated by earlier comers.

An Unsocial Socialist by Shaw, George Bernard View in context

This was one of the speeches of the marchande de mode to Adrienne, and the dear girl repeated it in her mind, as she sat at work on me, without the slightest distrust of the heartless selfishness it so ill concealed.

Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief by Cooper, James Fenimore View in context

Work Needed and Prospective Packages
Work Negotiation Meeting
Work Not Welfare
work of adhesion
work of art
work of art
work of art
work of art
Work of Breathing
Work of Breathing
Work of Breathing Patient
Work of Breathing per Liter
Work of Engineering Construction
Work of Fracture
Work of Literary Merit
Work of Nasal Breathing
Work of Shock Absorbers
Work of Shock Absorbers
Work of the Chariot Trust
work of worrying
work off
work off
work off
work off
work off
work off
Work office
Work office
Work office
Work office

work on

Work on Hold
Work on Line
Work on Weekends
work oneself into a lather
work oneself into a sweat
work oneself up
work oneself up into
Work Only When Needed
Work Opportunities for Women in the Information Society
Work Opportunity Credit
Work Opportunity Credits
Work Opportunity Program
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Work order
Work order
Work order
Work order
Work Order & Work Accomplishment Record
Work Order Age
Work Order and Flow Chart
Work Order Authorization
Work Order Bin
Work Order Code
Work Order Control
Work Order Control System
Work Order Generator
Work Order Generator System