work(yourself)up tosomething
phrasal verbwithworkverbuk/wɜːk/us/wɝːk/
tograduallyprepareyourself for somethingdifficult:
He's veryshy, but he'sslowlyworking(his way/himself) up to lettingherknowwhat hefeelsabout her.
Preparing
- batten
- batten down the hatchesidiom
- breaksomeonein
- bug-out bag
- build(someone/something)up
- dig
- gear(someone/something)up
- gearsomethingto/towardssomeone/something
- get/have your ducks in a rowidiom
- gird
- girdyourselfidiom
- lay
- prep
- preparation
- preset
- prime
- roll upyoursleevesidiom
- setsomethingup
- set the scene/stageidiom
- tune