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make-work

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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈmake-ˌwork, n. [uncountable]

work created to keep a person from being idle or unemployed:Some companies give their employees make-work rather than lay them off.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

make-work n.

work, usually of little importance, created to keep a person from being idle or unemployed.

noun, nominal use of verb, verbal phrase make work 1935–40, American.

Forum discussions with the word(s) "make-work" in the title:

Draw up , make , work out a timetable
make / work / figure out
make work for everything
make work for yourself?
make work of art out of the service
make... work for the government
Officials make work for each other
to make work for them

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