earn (your) stripes

to do something to show that you deserve a particular rank or position and have the skills needed for it.

She earned her stripes as a junior reporter before becoming education correspondent.

• there'll be hell to pay
• there's a lot to be said for
• there's a lot to be said for doing something
• there's a lot to be said for something
• There's a time and a place.
• There's life in the old dog yet.
• There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
• There's many a true word spoken in jest.
• there's method in madness
• there's method in someone's madness
• There's more than one way to skin a cat.
• there's much to be said for
• there's much to be said for doing something
• there's much to be said for something
• There's no accounting for taste!
• there's no law against
• there's no law against doing something
• there's no law against something
• There's no peace for the wicked!
• There's no rest for the wicked!
• There's no smoke without fire.
• There's no such thing as a free lunch.
• there's no telling
• there's nothing to it
• There's nothing to it.