earn one's keep

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Related Words

• back
• encourage
• finance
• fund
• maintain
• raise
• set up
• sponsor
• strengthen
• subsidize
• uphold