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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Earn your stripes

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Gain a deserved position or reputation through your work and achievements.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. Nisha earned her stripes by managing several difficult projects.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Gain a deserved position or reputation through your work and achievements.
Show the answer

Earn your stripes — Gain a deserved position or reputation through your work and achievements.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Earn your stripes” about your own life.

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Gain a deserved position or reputation through your work and achievements.

Compare: Nisha earned her stripes by managing several difficult projects.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this informal expression to recognise experience someone has built over time. It fits conversations about careers, team roles and practical skills.

More examples in context

  • I earned my stripes answering customer calls before leading the team.
  • The new coach is still earning his stripes.

Usage note

Change the possessive to match the person: “my stripes”, “her stripes” or “their stripes”. This suggests demonstrated ability, rather than recognition based only on a title.

A short conversation

A: Why did they choose Omar to lead the launch?
B: He earned his stripes on the last three releases.
A: That experience should help him handle this one.

One more practice question

Who has earned their stripes?

A. A newcomer who demands respect before doing any work.
B. A technician who gains respect through years of reliable work.

Check your answer

B. The technician has built a deserved reputation through experience and results.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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