Certainly! Let's break down the phrase "worked up."
Definition:
Worked up is an adjective that describes someone who is very emotional or upset about something. When a person is "worked up," they often feel anxious, angry, or excited, sometimes over something that seems small or unimportant.
Usage Instructions:
Context: You can use "worked up" when talking about someone's feelings or emotions, especially when they seem exaggerated or intense.
Structure: It is typically used with a form of the verb "to be" (e.g., "is," "was," "gets") before it. For example: "She is worked up about the presentation."
Examples:
Basic Usage: "He got worked up about the traffic and started yelling."
Negative Emotion: "She was really worked up after hearing the bad news."
Positive Emotion: "He gets worked up with excitement before a big game."
Advanced Usage:
In more complex sentences, "worked up" can be used to highlight the contrast between someone's reaction and the situation: - "Even though the meeting was just a routine update, John was so worked up that it felt like a crisis."
Word Variants:
Work up (verb): This phrase can also function as a verb meaning to become agitated or to increase feelings. For example: "Don’t let the situation work you up."
Worked (past tense): The past form of "to work," but used differently.
Different Meanings:
While "worked up" typically refers to emotions, "work up" can also mean to develop or create something with effort, like "work up an appetite."
Synonyms:
Agitated
Upset
Excited
Overwrought
Stirred up
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Work oneself up: This is a similar phrase meaning to make oneself agitated or upset. For example: "She tends to work herself up over minor issues."
Get worked up: This is another way to say that someone is becoming emotional. For example: "Don't get worked up over things you can't control."
Summary:
In summary, "worked up" is a useful adjective to describe someone who is very emotional, often in a negative way.