work over

passer à tabac, tabasser

Attaquer quelqu’un et le frapper à plusieurs reprises en le blessant.

En anglais simple : To attack someone and hit them repeatedly, causing injury.

• They worked him over badly.
• Two men worked the shopkeeper over and stole his money.
• She needed hospital treatment after being worked over.

Comment l'utiliser : work someone over (The gang worked him over behind the shop.)

Synonymes : beat up, batter

Expressions courantes : work someone over, work over someone

retravailler, remanier

Améliorer une première version en l’examinant et en la modifiant soigneusement.

En anglais simple : To improve an early version of something by checking and changing it carefully.

• We worked over the first draft.
• She is working the design over before showing it to clients.
• Could you work these estimates over once more?

Comment l'utiliser : work something over (I need to work these figures over before the meeting.)

Synonymes : revise, rework, refine

Expressions courantes : work over a draft, work over something

malmener, cuisiner

Traiter quelqu’un durement en l’interrogeant, en le réprimandant ou en l’attaquant physiquement.

En anglais simple : To treat someone harshly by questioning, scolding, or physically attacking them.

• The detectives worked him over with questions.
• Our coach worked us over after the terrible match.
• The interview panel worked her over for nearly an hour.

Comment l'utiliser : work someone over about something (The investigators worked him over about the missing money.)

Synonymes : give a hard time, grill

Expressions courantes : work someone over, work over someone