Pay One's Dues Idiom American Expressions and American Idioms

This database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available. American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time. .

pay one's dues What does pay one's dues mean?	to earn one's right to something through hard work or suffering	The young athlete worked hard to pay his dues in order to get on the best team in the city.
	Some Random Idioms
dry up What does "dry up" mean?	to become dry, to be depleted	The river began to dry up early in the summer. The money for the project has dried up.
straight What does "straight" mean?	no longer using drugs or alcohol
in two minds about (something) What does "in two minds about (something)" mean?	to be undecided about something	I am in two minds about going to a movie tonight.
white elephant What does "white elephant" mean?	a waste of money	The new airport was a white elephant which nobody liked to use.
Tough luck What does "Tough luck" mean?	Tough luck is bad luck.
Climb on the bandwagon What does "Climb on the bandwagon" mean?	When people climb on the bandwagon they do something because it is popular and everyone else is doing it.

out of one's mind/head/senses What does "out of one's mind/head/senses" mean?	to be crazy/irrational/silly	The woman is out of her mind and she is always doing something crazy.
keep one's place What does "keep one's place" mean?	exhibit behavior suitable to one's position/place in life	I was told to keep my place when I began to complain about the food in the school cafeteria.
nip and tuck What does "nip and tuck" mean?	evenly matched, almost even	They were running nip and tuck but he finally won the race in the end.
rat on (someone) What does "rat on (someone)" mean?	to report someone's bad behavior to someone	The little boy ratted on his friend at school.
hear a peep out of (someone) What does "hear a peep out of (someone)" mean?	hear the smallest word from someone	We did not hear a peep out of the children who were playing in the bedroom.
junk it What does "junk it" mean?	discard it; get rid of it

American Idioms and Expressions

Pay One's Dues Idiom