Language: en
Meaning: Tooutlaymoneywhich is owed as amembershipfeeorpriceofadmission.1871,Thomas Hardy, chapter 8, inDesperate Remedies:The carrier to Casterbridge came up as Edward stepped into the road, and jumped down from the van to pay toll. . . . The carrierpaid his dues.; (idiomatic)To acquirestatusor to earn therightto enjoy certainbenefits, especially through lengthyexperience,hardship, orserviceto anorganization.1969,B.B. King,D. Clark, “Why I Sing the Blues”, performed by B.B. King:Everybody wanna know / Why I'm singing the blues / Yes, I've been around a long time / People, I'vepaid my dues2005August 7, Jeff Leeds, “A Money Scandal That's Rocking Hip-Hop”, inNew York Times[1], retrieved17 July 2013:[S]he spent some timepaying her duesat entry-level jobs.2005November 6, Donald Morrison, “Still Enough Wrongs To Write”, inTime[2], archived fromthe originalon30 June 2013:He too championed the anti-apartheid cause,paid his dues, had his works banned.2014May 28,John McWhorter, “Saint Maya”, inThe New Republic[3],→ISSN:[Josephine Baker]paid her duesin a touring chorus line, and gradually attracted attention for making funny faces, and was rewarded with a respectable third-banana speaking part in the authors' next show, and got some more attention, and so on.
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