Cool MatePerform vs Work it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Perform
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Work it
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: PerformMost common: Perform
| Perform | Work it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈfɔːm/","/pəˈfɔːmz/","/pəˈfɔːmd/","/pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈfɔːrm/","/pərˈfɔːrmz/","/pərˈfɔːrmd/","/pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɜːk ɪt//🇺🇸 //wɜrk ɪt// |
| Meaning | to do something, especially in front of others | Do something well or with confidence. |
| Example | She will perform a song at the concert tonight. | You really need to just work it at that audition. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | live, in public, publicly, first performed, rarely performed, see something performed, effectively, efficiently, properly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to, failure to perform something, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to | work it out, work it to your advantage, work it like a pro |
| Antonyms | neglect, ignore, abort | give up, quit, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Used incorrectly as 'performance' instead of 'perform', Confused with 'present', especially in a non-theatrical context, Using 'perform' without specifying what is being performed | Confusing with 'work at' which means to put effort into something., Using it in overly formal contexts., 'Work it' can be confused with 'work for', which means to do a job. |
| Usage notes | Used in contexts such as theater, music, and tasks. Common in both informal and formal settings. Avoid when not discussing an action or task. | Use this phrase to encourage someone to be confident or perform well, especially in social situations. It's informal, so avoid in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Perform vs Work it
What's the difference between Perform and Work it?
Perform: to do something, especially in front of others Work it: Do something well or with confidence.
Which is more formal: Perform and Work it?
Perform is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Perform and Work it?
Perform is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Perform: She will perform a song at the concert tonight. Work it: You really need to just work it at that audition.
Can I use Perform and Work it interchangeably?
Not always. Perform and Work it are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.