earn (one's) wings

earn (one's) wings

To prove one's merit and skill. I never thought much of Stu, but he really earned his wings this week with how well he handled the merger.
See also: earn, wing
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • don't rain on (one's) parade
  • parade
  • cut (one) down in (one's) prime
  • cut (one) off in (one's) prime
  • cut someone off in their prime
  • a week yesterday, last Monday, etc.
  • a week yesterday/last (some day)/etc.
  • every/a monkey knows what tree to climb
  • get too big for (one's) britches
  • britches