work out
phr. v..phr. v.. to do physical exercise to get fit; also, to find a solution to a problem.
phr. v.. to engage in physical exercise for fitness; alternatively, to resolve a problem or calculate a result through reasoning.
I work out at the gym three times a week.
We need to work out a way to finish the project before the deadline on Friday.
The scientists spent months trying to work out why the experiment failed despite following the established protocols.
the exercise sense is usually intransitive, while the problem-solving sense is often transitive.
distinguish between the intransitive 'I work out' (exercise) and the transitive 'I worked out the answer' (solved); the latter allows for object placement between the verb and particle.
I need to work out it.I need to work it out.when using a pronoun as the object in the 'solve' sense, it must go between the verb and the particle.