Dictionary

earn one's keep en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
   • Klee also left home to make his name, moving in his late teens to Munich, where he studied art, earned his keep as a musician and, in 1906, married Lily Stumpf. 2005 July 1, Alan Riding, “A Curvy Klee Museum, Sprouting From the Swiss Hills”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • Being a very strong, active man, with gift of versatile hand and brain, and early acquaintance with handicrafts, Christopher Bert could earn his keep. 1880, R. D. Blackmore, chapter 41, in Mary Anerley: A Yorkshire Tale:
2. (figuratively) To be worthwhile.
   • The lack of bottom-end grunt presents as a particular problem in hilly terrain where the five-speed manual gearbox really earns its keep. 2021 February 14, The Road Ahead, Brisbane, page 55, column 2:

Forms

Synonyms

earn one's corn · earn one's corn · earn a living · keep the home fires burning · carry one's weight · earn one's keep · earn one's crust · put food on the table · carry one's weight · bring home the bacon · earn one's crust · put bread on the table

Translations (10)

de für Kost und Logis arbeiten (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.) · pl opłacić się (to be worthwhile) · de sein Auskommen haben (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.) · fi tienata leipänsä (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.) · de lohnen (to be worthwhile) · de sich seinen Platz / sein Bett / sein Essen verdienen (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.) · de sich seinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.) · pl opłacać się (to be worthwhile) · pl pracować w zamian za wyżywienie i nocleg (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.) · de seine Schuld abarbeiten (to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.)