n. plural , slang 1. Everything that can be had or that you have; everything of this kind, all that goes with it. When the tramp found $100, he went into a fine restaurant and ordered the works with a steak dinner. 1b. See: SHOOT THE WORKS. 2. Rough handling or treatment; a bad beating or scolding; killing; murder. Usually used with "get" or "give". The boy said that Joe was going to get the works if he ever came back to that neighborhood again. The newspaper gave the police department the works when they let the burglars get away. The gangster told his friend he would give him the works if he double-crossed him.
Compare: THE BUSINESS.