From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwork the systemwork the systemto understand how a system works so that you can get advantages for yourself, often in a slightly dishonest way Lynn could show the rest of us how to work the system. → work
Examples from the Corpus
work the system• Accountants would always be kept busy showing the rest of us how to work the system.• Many say privately that for whatever reason, too many black parents fail to work the system.• They are all working the system.• It is better if this problem can be avoided by having the operators work the system properly. 