THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Worth your while
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Useful, enjoyable or beneficial enough to justify the time or effort involved.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- It may be worth your while to read the feedback before starting the next draft.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
It may be ________ to read the feedback before starting the next draft.
Show the answer
Worth your while — Useful, enjoyable or beneficial enough to justify the time or effort involved.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Worth your while” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Useful, enjoyable or beneficial enough to justify the time or effort involved.
Compare: It may be worth your while to read the feedback before starting the next draft.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this expression when explaining why an activity may repay someone’s effort. Specify the likely benefit rather than making an empty promise.
More examples in context
- The short training session was worth my while because I learned a faster method.
- We decided the extra rehearsal was worth our while.
Usage note
Change your to my, her, our or another possessive as needed. While is the spelling, not wile. In this expression, worth is not a verb: say it is worth your while, not it worths your while.
A short conversation
A: Should I attend the optional editing session?
B: It could be worth your while if you want feedback on your draft.
A: Then I will bring a specific question.
One more practice question
When is an activity worth your while?
A. When its benefit justifies the time or effort you spend.
B. When it offers no benefit and only wastes effort.
Check your answer
A. The expression weighs the benefit against the effort involved.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.