Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

make short work of

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.18 in modern English

Syllables: make short- -work of
IPA

34

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To do (a task) relatively quickly or easily.

Transitive verb

verb

To deal with or overcome (someone or something) quickly and without difficulty.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"A good electric screwdriver will make short work of the disassembly process."
"[...] a cab ride in one of the Birmingham Type 2 diesels over the Mallaig extension demonstrated what short work—and what a transformation of the engineman's lot—these machines make of the gradients by comparison with their steam predecessors."
""There was desperate characters here, but the vigilantes made short work of 'em.""
"You impertinent ruffian! You impertinent ruffian! I'll make short work of you!"
"With what you have learned from your drivers' education course so far, you should be able to make short work of an enemy aircraft."
"I arrange some of my things and sit back, making short work of the chocolate bars supplied to passengers."

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

makes short work of (present, singular) making short work of (participle, present) made short work of (participle, past) made short work of (past)

Phrases

short shrift

Frequently Paired Words

short shrift

Synonyms

make light work of make quick work of make mincemeat of

Questions

What does make short work of mean?: To do (a task) relatively quickly or easily.

How to pronounce make short work of

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