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Phrase(s): work oneself (up) into a lather [and] work oneself (up) into a sweat 1. [and] work up a sweat
Lit. to work very hard and sweat very much. (In the way that a horse works up a lather.) • Don’t work yourself up into a lather. We don’t need to finish this today. • I worked myself into a sweat getting this stuff ready. 2. Fig. to get excited or angry. (An elaboration of work oneself up to something.) • Now, now, don’t work yourself up into a lather. • He had worked himself into such a sweat, I was afraid he would have a stroke.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs