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[work through channels]{v. phr.} To go through the proper procedures and officials. •/At a state university everybody must work through channels to get things done./

[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./

[work upon] See: WORK ON.

[world] See: COME UP IN THE WORLD or RISE IN THE WORLD, DEAD TO THE WORLD, FOR ALL THE WORLD, IN A WORLD OF ONE’S OWN or IN A WORLD BY ONESELF, IN THE WORLD, LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, NOT FOR THE WORLD, ON TOP OF THE WORLD or SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD, OUT OF THIS WORLD, SET THE WORLD ON FIRE, THIRD WORLD.

[world is one’s oyster] Everything is possible for you; the world belongs to you; you can get anything you want. •/When John won the scholarship, he felt as though the world was his oyster./ •/The rich girl acts as though the world is her oyster./

[world on one’s shoulders] See: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

[world on one’s back] See: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

[world without end]{adv. phr.}, {literary} Endlessly; forever; eternally. •/Each human being has to die, but mankind goes on world without end./

[worlds apart]{adj. phr.} Completely different; in total disagreement. •/Jack and Al never agree on anything; they are worlds apart in their thinking./

[worm] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM.

[worm in]{v. phr.} To insinuate oneself; penetrate gradually. •/By cultivating the friendship of a few of the prominent merchants, Peter hoped to worm his way into that exclusive elite of export magnates./

[worm may turn] Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated. •/Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn./

[warm out]{v. phr.} To learn through persistent questioning; draw out from. •/I finally wormed out of her the reason she broke off her engagement to Larry./

[worn to a frazzle]{adj. phr.} To be fatigued; be exhausted. •/I’m worn to a frazzle cooking for all these guests./

[worrywart]{n. phr.} A person who always worries. •/"Stop being such a worrywart," Bob said to Alice, who was constantly weighing herself on the bathroom scale./

[worse] See: BARK WORSE THAN ONE’S BITE, FOR BETTER OR WORSE or FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, FOR THE WORSE, GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.

[worse for wear]{adj. phr.} Not as good as new; worn out; damaged by use. — Used with "the". •/Her favorite tablecloth was beginning to look the worse for wear./ — Often used with "none" to mean: as good as new. •/The doll was Mary’s favorite toy but it was none the worse for wear./

[worst] See: GET THE WORST OF also HAVE THE WORST OF, IF WORST COMES TO WORST.

[worth] See: BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH, FOR ALL ONE IS WORTH, GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE, NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN, WORTH A CENT.