earned one's stripes
Gained through experience
To earn one's stripes is to gain experience, credibility, or status through hard work and proven performance.
The phrase comes from military rank insignia—stripes on a uniform indicate promotion through demonstrated ability.
Someone who has earned their stripes has paid their dues and deserves respect in their field: She earned her stripes covering war zones before becoming an anchor.
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- progressMovement toward improvement
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- career ladderSequential job advancement structure
- meritDeserved praise-worthiness
respect · street cred · perseverance · blood sweat and tears · admiration · resilience · promotion · credibility · mastery · learning · insignia · trustworthiness · experience · veteran · old hand · battle scars · trial by fire · proving ground
earned one's stripeswet behind the ears
Naive and inexperienced
unproven · green · inexperienced · untested · raw recruit
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