Meaning

2 senses

  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.

    sich seinen Platz / sein Bett / sein Essen verdienen, seine Schuld abarbeiten, für Kost und Logis arbeiten

  2. (figuratively)To be worthwhile.

    lohnen

Examples

3 sentences

  1. Tom really earned his keep today.

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  2. Tom needs to earn his keep.

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  3. I'd like to earn my keep while I'm staying with you.

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Translations

2 languages
Deutsch
By meaning 2
to perform physical labor or to provide services for remuneration, lodging, etc.:
to be worthwhile:

Forms

earns one's keep, earning one's keep, earned one's keep, earned one's keep
Base formearn one's keep · to earn one's keep
3rd person singularearns one's keep
Present participleearning one's keep
Past simpleearned one's keep / earnt one's keep
Past participleearned one's keep / earnt one's keep

irregular · Lesson

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theyearn one's keep
he, she, itearns one's keep

Past simpleLesson

all personsearned one's keep

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave earned one's keep
he, she, ithas earned one's keep

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill earn one's keep

Synonyms

9 synonyms
earn one's cornearn one's crustcarry one's weightbring home the baconearn a livingkeep the home fires burningput bread on the tableput food on the table

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
earmarkearmuffsearnA2earnestB1earnestly
earn one's keep — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto