work something ↔ off phrasal verb ( see also ↑ work )
1 . to get rid of something, especially a feeling such as anger, nervousness etc, by doing something that uses a lot of your energy:
Walking is excellent for working off tension.
I need to go and work off a few of these calories.
2 . to do a job for someone else because you owe them money or because they have helped you in the past:
She hasn’t worked off her debts to me yet.