What Does "Earn One's Keep" Mean?
"Earn one's keep" is an English idiom. It means "to contribute one's fair share of work; to earn one's way."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "earn one's keep" used in a sentence:- He's living with his parents, but he earns his keep by doing all the household repairs.
- Everyone on the farm has to earn their keep, even the youngest children.
- She stays with her aunt and uncle during the summers and earns her keep by babysitting.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Earn One's Keep" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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