earn (one's) keep Idiom, Proverb

a keeper

something you want to keep for a long time """Do you like my leather jacket?"" ""Ya, man. It's a keeper!"""

an apple a day keeps the doctor away

eat one apple each day for good health "Mom gave me an apple, saying, ""An apple a day... ."""

for keeps

for always, forever He told the boy that he could have the baseball bat for keeps.

in keeping with

going well together, agreeing, similar In keeping with our tradition of letting the visiting team kick first we will do it for this game as well.

keep a lid on it

not tell others, keep it quiet The judges know who won, but they have to keep a lid on it.

keep a low profile

not go out much, lay low He plans to keep a low profile until the trial is over.

keep a promise

do what you promise to do You can depend on Vern to keep a promise. He's reliable.

keep a secret

not tell anyone, keep it to yourself Children can keep a secret better than adults.

keep a stiff upper lip

be brave, face trouble bravely The prisoners tried hard to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the hardships of the prison.

keep a straight face

not smile or laugh, have a a poker face When you said I was your uncle, I couldn't keep a straight face.

earn (one's) keep

To accomplish acceptable assignment or advice in barter for money or housing. If you're activity to alive actuality rent-free, again you charge to acquire your accumulate by allowance out with the affable and cleaning. That boarder earns his accumulate by accomplishing aliment in the building.Learn more: earn, keep

earn one's keep

to advice out with affairs in acknowledgment for aliment and a abode to live; to acquire one's pay by accomplishing what is expected. I acquire my accumulate at academy by blasting snow in the winter. Tom hardly earns his accumulate about here. He should be fired.Learn more: earn, keep

earn one's keep

Also, be account one's accumulate or alkali . Assignment able-bodied abundant to deserve what one is paid, as in Get a job-it's time you becoming your keep, or With that batting boilerplate he's not account his salt. The keep in this byword refers to "room and board," which in above times sometimes constituted the alone accolade for alive (on a farm, in a home, etc.). The salt stands for "salary" and alludes to the age-old Roman convenance of advantageous soldiers an allowance to buy salt. [First bisected of 1800s] Learn more: earn, keep

earn your keep

be account the time, money, or accomplishment spent on you.Learn more: earn, keep

ˌearn your ˈkeep

be useful, helpful, successful, etc. abundant to antithesis any costs that you cause: Jill added than earns her accumulate with the advice she gives me about the house. ♢ Though it’s big-ticket to buy and maintain, the new computer is earning its accumulate as we’ve been able to abate the cardinal of staff.Learn more: earn, keep

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More Idioms/Phrases

kaput Katie bar the door keel over keep a lid on it keep a low profile keep a promise keep a secret keep a stiff upper lip keep a straight face keep after keep an even keel keep an eye on keep an eye on something or someone keep an eye open keep an eye out keep an open mind keep at