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work up sth

phrasal verb with work
 
/wɜːk/
 
US  /wɝːk/ verb

Definition

to develop an emotional or physical state that you feel strongly, after a period of effort or time: We worked up a real appetite climbing in the mountains. It's strange, but I can't work up any enthusiasm for going on this trip.Effort and expending energyTrying and making an effort
(Definition of work up sth from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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