earn (redirected from earned keep)

earn your stripes

to do something to show that you deserve a particular rank or position and have the skills needed for it. She earned her stripes as a junior reporter before becoming education correspondent.

earn/get brownie points (informal)

to get praise or approval for something you have done. I thought I might get some brownie points by helping to organize the party.

See also: point

earn/win your spurs

to do something to show that you deserve a particular position and have the skills needed for it. He won his political spurs fighting hospital closures during his time as a local councillor in Bristol.

See also: spur, win

A penny saved is a penny earned.

something that you say which means it is wise to save money. I'd advise anyone to put aside a proportion of their earnings - a penny saved is a penny earned.

See also: penny, save

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earn your stripes

to do something to show that you deserve a particular rank or position. She earned her stripes as a local reporter before becoming a foreign correspondent.

Etymology: based on the idea that soldiers wear stripes (= strips of material sewn onto a uniform that show rank)