win one's spurs

Gain a position or attain distinction through hard work or some special accomplishment. For example, After two years of freelancing, she won her spurs as a programmer and was hired for the top job . This expression originally alluded to being knighted for some act of bravery and was being used figuratively by the mid-1500s.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
LorccÁN	LOR-kan	Irish
Vashti	VASH-tee (English)	Biblical
Kendal	KEN-dahl	English (Modern)
Ernest	UR-nəst (English)	English, French, Slovene, Polish
Marmaduke	MAHR-mə-dook	English (British, Rare)
Kotone	ko-to-ne	Japanese