1
general::
Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): work something through (something)
1. to guide or push something through a physical barrier. • I could hardly work the needle through the tightly woven cloth. • I worked the needle through. 2. to guide or maneuver a law, proposal, motion, through a governing body. • The lobbyist was unable to work the law through the legislature. • The usual party hacks worked the law through.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs