earn one's keep
English
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Verb
editearn one's keep (third-person singular simple present earns one's keep, present participle earning one's keep, simple past and past participle earned one's keep or earnt one's keep)
- (idiomatic) To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
- Synonyms: earn one's corn, earn one's crust, carry one's weight; see also Thesaurus:make a living
- 1880, R. D. Blackmore, chapter 41, in Mary Anerley: A Yorkshire Tale:
- Being a very strong, active man, with gift of versatile hand and brain, and early acquaintance with handicrafts, Christopher Bert could earn his keep.
- (figurative) To be worthwhile.
- 2021 February, The Road Ahead, Brisbane, page 55, column 2:
- The lack of bottom-end grunt presents as a particular problem in hilly terrain where the five-speed manual gearbox really earns its keep.
Translations
editto perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.