work up
[verb]
Synonyms: generate, breed, cause, engender, get up, hatch, induce, muster (up), occasion, produce

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

work up phrasal verb (see also work)

1. work up enthusiasm/interest/courage etc to make yourself feel interested, brave etc:
I’m trying to work up enough courage to go to the dentist.

2. work up an appetite/a thirst/a sweat to make yourself hungry or thirsty, or make yourself sweat, especially by doing physical exercise:
You can work up a really big thirst playing tennis.

3. work somebody up to make someone very angry, excited, or upset about something
work yourself up
You’re working yourself up again.
She had worked herself up into a state. ⇒ worked up

4. work something ↔ up to develop and improve something such as a project or a piece of writing:
Jack took notes which he would work up into a report later.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

work up
work (yourself) up
to make yourself excited or upset.
You've worked yourself up over just meeting a girl for a drink?

I can't work up any enthusiasm for this plan.

work up (something)
to develop something.
It took me a month to work up an outline of my book.

She made a sketch, and hoped to work it up into a full-size painting when she got home.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

work up something
work up (something)
to develop something.
It took me a month to work up an outline of my book.

She made a sketch, and hoped to work it up into a full-size painting when she got home.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

work up
stir up, excite
He really likes to work up a sweat when he does his exercises.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

work up
v.
1. To stir up; arouse; excite.
I can't work up any interest in this book.
He worked up a sweat weeding the garden.
2. To develop; originate.
He worked up an interesting plot for a play.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲