a)plan 计划 work something ↔ outPLAN to think carefully about how you are going to do something and plan a good way of doing it 制订出…
UN negotiators have worked out a set of compromise proposals.
联合国谈判人员制订出一套折中方案。
work out what/where/how etc
We need to work out how we’re going to get there.
我们需要想想如何去那里。
I had it all worked out (=had made very careful plans).
我已制订了细致的计划。
b)calculate 计算 work something ↔ outCOUNT/CALCULATE to calculate an answer, amount, price etc 计算出〔答案、数量、价格等〕
See if you can work this bill out.
看看你能不能把这份账单算出来。
work out how much/how many etc
We’ll have to work out how much food we’ll need for the party.
我们必须算出这次聚会需要多少食物。
c)understand 理解 work something ↔ out especially British EnglishBrESOLVE/FIND THE ANSWER to think about something and manage to understand it 设法弄懂某事物
The plot is very complicated – it’ll take you a while to work it out.
故事情节很复杂——要花点时间才会明白。
work something out for yourself
I’m sure you can work it out for yourself.
我想你自己一定会弄明白的。
d)cost 费用TOTAL if a cost or amount works out at a particular figure, it is found to be that much when you calculate it 〔费用或数量〕算下来是
work out at/to £10/$500 etc
The bill works out at £15 each.
账单算下来是每人15英镑。
work out expensive/cheap etc (=be expensive or cheap) 算下来贵/便宜等
If we go by taxi, it’s going to work out very expensive.
要是我们坐出租车去,算下来要不少钱。
e)get better 好起来SUCCEED IN DOING something if a problem or complicated situation works out, it gradually gets better or gets solved 〔问题〕逐渐解决;〔复杂情况〕逐渐化解
Things will work out, you’ll see.
情况会好起来的,看着吧。
I hope it all works out for Gina and Andy.
我希望吉娜和安迪的问题会得到解决。
work itself out
I’m sure everything will work itself out.
我确信一切都会好起来的。
f)happen 发生HAPPEN if a situation works out in a particular way, it happens in that way 〔以某种方式〕发生SYN turn out
work out well/badly
Financially, things have worked out well for us.
我们的经济情况很好。
g)exercise 锻炼EXERCISE to make your body fit and strong by doing exercises 锻炼;健身
h)I can’t work somebody outBritish EnglishBrE spokenUNDERSTAND used to say that you cannot understand what someone is really like or why they behave in the way they do 我弄不懂某人〔指不理解某人的性格或行为〕
I couldn’t work her out at all.
我完全弄不懂她。
i)be worked outTI if a mine is worked out, all the coal, gold etc has been removed from it 〔矿藏〕采掘完
Examples from the Corpus
work out• I've found that major problems tent to either go away or somehow work themselves out.• The killer, whoever he was, had it all worked out.• We need to work out how much food we'll need to take with us.• Try not to worry. I'm sure everything will work out in the end.• Professionalfootballersspend at least an hour every day working out in the gym.• I always use a calculator to work outpercentages.• ManagementconsultantPeter Brant worked out the schedule in October 1983.• I'll certainly go back to my job once I've worked out who's going to look after the kids during the day.• I go jogging every morning and work out with weights twice a week.• "How much do I owe you?" "I haven't worked it out yet."
work out what/where/how etc• Betty MacDougall, localhistorian and folklorist, was able to work out what families would have been living there in 1876.• Finally, work out how long the journey will take you, including finding the right office.• Albert was trying to work out how, much younger Percy was than he himself.• Just when you think you have worked out whatreality is, you bump your nose on glass.• But in her condemnation it was difficult to work out what she was objecting to.• We have to work out where the boundaries are...• Decision on whether the message is right or wrong should at least come after working out what the message is.• A fair amount of shouting took place before they worked out what to do.
work something out for yourself• I can't tell you what happened - work it out for yourself.• It didn't take a psychic to see that Annie had worked that out for herself.• Often you need to work things out for yourself.• They have worked them out for themselves; they share them with the politicians.
work out expensive/cheap etc• This generally works out cheaper, allows you to incorporatephotographs and colour and produces a better result.• This process can work out expensive but you can achieve the look of long hair instantly!• A good qualitybed has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, and so works out cheaper in the long run.• It probably works out cheaper than a conventional carphone.• Employers should note, however, that service flats do not always work out cheaper than hotels.
work itself out• The situation should work itself out.• I suppose you thought everything would somehow miraculously work itself out.• Oh well, she would do her best and it would no doubtwork itself out.• This will all work itself out.• It even works itself out a few miles into the subssoil at the shore-lines.
work out well/badly• I hope your new job works out well.• Besides, I argued with myself, the trip would work out well.• Everything seemed to be working out well.• From several perspectives this project has worked out well.• He chose to stay, although it hasn't always worked out well.• Things, he reflected, had worked out well.• Unfortunately, the commission did not work out well.• I was working out well, an investment with the promise of paying out.• Evidently the carrierlandings didn't work out well as those operations and their filming was quickly terminated.