pay one's dues

pay (one's) dues

1. Literally, to pay the requisite fees to enter into or remain in an organization. If you don't pay your dues every month, they will rescind your membership without warning.

2. By extension, to work hard, gain the necessary skills or experience, or suffer hardships (in order to earn a position, set of rights, the respect of others, etc.). I paid my dues working in the warehouse for 10 years before I got this job in the head office.

3. To serve the sentence given to one upon conviction of a crime. He paid his dues in the eyes of the law, so he shouldn't be facing any further punishment for his past crimes. A: "We can't re-hire you—you're a criminal!" B: "Hey, I spent nearly 15 years in prison. I've paid my dues!"

pay one's dues

Earn something through hard work, long experience, or suffering. For example, She'd paid her dues in small-town shows before she finally got a Broadway part. This expression transfers the cost of being a paid-up member in an organization to that of gaining experience in an endeavor. [Mid-1900s]

词组	pay one's dues
释义	pay one's dues pay (one's) dues 1. Literally, to pay the requisite fees to enter into or remain in an organization. If you don't pay your dues every month, they will rescind your membership without warning. 2. By extension, to work hard, gain the necessary skills or experience, or suffer hardships (in order to earn a position, set of rights, the respect of others, etc.). I paid my dues working in the warehouse for 10 years before I got this job in the head office. 3. To serve the sentence given to one upon conviction of a crime. He paid his dues in the eyes of the law, so he shouldn't be facing any further punishment for his past crimes. A: "We can't re-hire you—you're a criminal!" B: "Hey, I spent nearly 15 years in prison. I've paid my dues!" See also: due, pay Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. pay one's dues Earn something through hard work, long experience, or suffering. For example, She'd paid her dues in small-town shows before she finally got a Broadway part. This expression transfers the cost of being a paid-up member in an organization to that of gaining experience in an endeavor. [Mid-1900s] See also: due, pay The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. See also: paid one's dues pay (one's) dues pay dues pay one’s dues pay the penalty for (something) pay the freight pay-for-play put (one) to great expense pay by pay out of pocket
随便看	T.G.I.F. TGIF TGIT Thames than than a bygod thank thank for thankful thankful for small blessings thank God thank God! thank God for small blessings thank God for small favors thank God for small mercies thank God it's Friday Thank goodness! thank goodness thank heavens thank lucky stars thank (one) for (something) thank (one's) lucky stars thank one's lucky stars thank one's lucky stars, to thanks