Idiom
earn one's keep
Meaning
To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“You must work hard to earn your keep here.”
“Since he moved into his uncle's house, he helps with the garden to earn his keep.”
“The young apprentice proved his value to the master craftsman by working long hours to earn his keep while learning the trade.”
Examples
simple
“You must work hard to earn your keep here.”
contextual
“Since he moved into his uncle's house, he helps with the garden to earn his keep.”
complex
“The young apprentice proved his value to the master craftsman by working long hours to earn his keep while learning the trade.”
Key words
Related idioms
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