work up
1．build up gradually by effort，industry，etc．；develop steadily 通过努力、勤奋逐步建立；逐渐发展起来
Smith has worked the firm up from almost nothing．史密斯几乎是白手起家，搞起了这家公司。
It took us several years to work up a market for this product．我们花了好几年时间才为这个产品打开了销路。
The business was almost bankrupt when he took it over but within a few years he had worked it up to be a prosperous concern．他刚接管这个企业时，企业已濒临破产，但经过几年的努力，他渐渐地把它发展成为一个欣欣向荣的企业。
2．rise to a higher position；advance 晋级；步步高升
If you have what it takes，you can work up to the presidency of the company．如果你有本事，你可以升到公司总裁的地位。
3．stir up；rouse；excite 鼓动起来，激起；使激动
I can't work up any enthusiasm for the project，I'm afraid．我恐怕对这项计划鼓不起什么热情。
Let's go out for a walk to work up an appetite．我们出去走走吧，这样会增加食欲。
Her words worked him up into a rage．她的话使他大发雷霆。
4．make into sth．； elaborately prepare 精心做成；制订
The craftsman is working up the mass of clay into a toy figure．工 匠正把一团泥捏成一个玩具。
Work these facts up into an article for a weekly journal．把这些事实整理成一篇文章，在周刊上发表
5．increase in numbers or strength；improve in efficiency 增加；加强；提高效率
You can surely work up your speed if you practice．只要你坚持练习，就一定能提高速度。