pay one's dues
Suffer before succeeding
To pay one's dues is to earn status or success through sustained effort, hardship, or experience before enjoying rewards.
The metaphor comes from membership fees paid to belong to an organization—you contribute before you benefit.
She paid her dues working small clubs before headlining arenas.
Often invoked to suggest that shortcuts are illegitimate or that newcomers haven't yet earned their standing.
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
grit · tenacity · work ethic · labor · effort · endurance · resilience · patience
Transition-marking ceremony
- hazingAbusive initiation practices
- pledgingMaking a solemn promise
- novitiateReligious training period
- probationSupervised trial period
apprenticeship · trial period · induction · orientation · training · proving ground · rookie year · entry-level
Costs for services
- subscriptionPaid recurring access
- contributionSomething given to help
- renewalMaking current again
- enrollmentAct of registering officially
union · guild · association · fraternity · sorority · society · club · lodge
hardship
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
dedication · grit · tenacity · work ethic · labor · effort · endurance · resilience · patience · growth
rite of passage
Transition-marking ceremony
probation · apprenticeship · trial period · induction · orientation · training · proving ground · rookie year · entry-level · internship
fees
Costs for services
- subscriptionPaid recurring access
- contributionSomething given to help
- renewalMaking current again
enrollment · union · guild · association · fraternity · sorority · society · club · lodge · chapter
pay one's duesovernight success
Rapid rise to fame
coast · cut corners · luck into · fall into one's lap · strike it rich
pay one's duesfreeload
Take without reciprocating
skate by · cut in line · entitlement · coast · slack off
pays, paid, paying, payable, payment, payments, payer, payers, payee