earn spurs

earn one's spurs

Fig. to prove oneself. After that rodeo, all the cowboys agreed that Sally had earned her spurs. He felt that he had earned his spurs when he received his Ph.D.

earn/win your spurs

to do something to show that you deserve a particular position and have the skills needed for it He won his political spurs fighting hospital closures during his time as a local councillor in Bristol.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Miki	mee-kee	Japanese
Geltrude	-	Italian
Brewer	['bru:ə]
Kostandin	-	Albanian
Wesley	WES-lee	English
Yedidyah	-	Biblical Hebrew