Earn (one's) keep - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/earn+(one%27s)+keep
Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 12,656,375,520 visitors served
Search / Page tools
?
Keyboard
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A
Language:
Share on Facebook Twitter
Get our app
Flashcards ?
My bookmarks ?
+ Add current page to bookmarks
9
Register Log in
Sign up with one click:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
Share on Facebook
Get
our app
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Medical
    Dictionary
  • Legal
    Dictionary
  • Financial
    Dictionary
  • Acronyms
  • Idioms
  • Encyclopedia
  • Wikipedia
    Encyclopedia
Tools
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A
Language:
Mobile Apps:
  • apple
  • android
For surfers:
  • Free toolbar & extensions
  • Word of the Day
  • Help
For webmasters:
  • Free content
  • Linking
  • Lookup box
Close

earn (one's) keep

earn (one's) keep

To perform sufficient work or help in exchange for money or housing. If you're going to live here rent-free, then you need to earn your keep by helping out with the cooking and cleaning. That boarder earns his keep by doing maintenance in the building.
See also: earn, keep
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

earn one's keep

to help out with chores in return for food and a place to live; to earn one's pay by doing what is expected. I earn my keep at college by shoveling snow in the winter. Tom hardly earns his keep around here. He should be fired.
See also: earn, keep
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

earn one's keep

Also, be worth one's keep or salt . Work well enough to deserve what one is paid, as in Get a job-it's time you earned your keep, or With that batting average he's not worth his salt. The keep in this phrase refers to "room and board," which in former times sometimes constituted the only reward for working (on a farm, in a home, etc.). The salt stands for "salary" and alludes to the ancient Roman practice of paying soldiers an allowance to buy salt. [First half of 1800s]
See also: earn, keep
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

earn your keep

be worth the time, money, or effort spent on you.
See also: earn, keep
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌearn your ˈkeep

be useful, helpful, successful, etc. enough to balance any costs that you cause: Jill more than earns her keep with the help she gives me around the house. ♢ Though it’s expensive to buy and maintain, the new computer is earning its keep as we’ve been able to reduce the number of staff.
See also: earn, keep
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
See also:
  • earn keep
  • earn one's keep
  • earn your keep
  • be at work
  • comfortable circumstances
  • spend money like a drunken sailor
  • low rent
  • low-rent
  • go cap in hand
  • go cap in hand (to someone)


Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.

Link to this page:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Feedback
Flashcards & Bookmarks ?
Please log in or register to use Flashcards and Bookmarks. You can also log in with
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
Flashcards ?
My bookmarks ?
+ Add current page to bookmarks
Idioms browser ?
  • ▲
  • early beams
  • early bird
  • early bird catches the worm
  • early bird catches the worm, the
  • early bird special
  • early black
  • early days
  • early doors
  • early grave
  • early money is like yeast(, because it helps to raise the dough)
  • early on
  • early ripe, early rotten
  • early to bed and early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise)
  • Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise
  • early to bed, early to rise (makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise)
  • earmark
  • earmark for
  • earmark for (someone or something)
  • earmuff
  • earmuff it
  • earmuffs!
  • earn
  • earn (one's) corn
  • earn (one's) crust
  • earn (one's) daily bread
  • earn (one's) keep
  • earn (one's) spurs
  • earn (one's) stripes
  • earn (one's) wings
  • earn a crust
  • earn a living
  • earn a mint
  • earn a packet
  • earn a/your crust
  • earn an honest buck
  • earn an honest penny
  • earn brownie points
  • earn its keep
  • earn keep
  • earn one's keep
  • earn one's stripes
  • earn out
  • earn spurs
  • earn your corn
  • earn your keep
  • earn your spurs
  • earn your stripes
  • earner
  • earp
  • Earp slop, bring the mop
  • ears are burning, one's
  • ▼
Full browser ?
  • ▲
  • earmarking of stocks
  • Earmarking Research
  • earmarks
  • earmarks
  • earmarks
  • earmarks
  • EARML
  • earmold
  • eARMS
  • earmuff
  • earmuff
  • earmuff
  • earmuff it
  • Earmuffs
  • Earmuffs
  • Earmuffs
  • Earmuffs
  • earmuffs!
  • EARMUN
  • eArmyU
  • earn
  • earn
  • earn
  • earn
  • earn
  • earn
  • earn
  • earn (one's) corn
  • earn (one's) crust
  • earn (one's) daily bread
  • earn (one's) keep
  • earn (one's) spurs
  • earn (one's) stripes
  • earn (one's) wings
  • earn a crust
  • Earn a Living
  • Earn a Living
  • earn a mint
  • earn a packet
  • earn a/your crust
  • earn an honest buck
  • earn an honest penny
  • earn an honest penny
  • earn brownie points
  • earn corn
  • earn corn
  • earn corn
  • earn crust
  • earn daily bread
  • Earn Dollars Not Pennies
  • Earn Enough for Us
  • earn her corn
  • earn her crust
  • earn her daily bread
  • earn her keep
  • earn her spurs
  • earn her stripes
  • earn her wings
  • earn his corn
  • earn his crust
  • earn his daily bread
  • ▼
  • Facebook Share
  • Twitter
CITE
Site: Follow:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Rss
  • Mail
Share:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
Open / Close
More from Idioms and phrases
Mobile Apps
  • Apple
  • Android
  • Kindle
  • Windows
  • Windows Phone
Free Tools
For surfers:
  • Free toolbar & extensions
  • Word of the Day
  • Word Finder
  • Help
For webmasters:
  • Free content
  • Linking
  • Lookup box
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy policy
  • Feedback
  • Advertise with Us
Copyright © 2003-2021 Farlex, Inc
Disclaimer

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.