work around
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle around
Meanings
Find a way past an obstacle
Why “around”? The path bends around an obstacle. Going around something means not going through it.
“We'll have to work around the budget.”
“They worked around the broken lift all week.”
Don't confuse with
Work around means find a way past an obstacle. Work away means keep working steadily for a long time.
Test yourself
“We'll have to work around the budget.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
work away
A contrast learners often mix up
Keep working steadily for a long time
beat around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid the main point by being indirect (beat around the bush)
dance around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid a topic by being evasive
get around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid a rule or difficulty; Travel or move about; (of news) become widely known; Find time to do something
go around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Take a longer path to avoid something; Move in a circular path; Be enough for everyone in a group; Behave in a particular way habitually; (of an illness) be common in a community
manoeuvre around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Steer skilfully around an obstacle
skirt around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Avoid by detouring round the edge
talk around
Same around pattern: avoiding
Discuss without addressing directly
Practice “work around” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.