[General] Earn your keep vs. Earn your living

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EnglishLearner1990

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Jul 29, 2013
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Persian
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Iran
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Iran
I've read some examples on the expression "earn your keep" but I don't really understand how it differs from "earn your living". From the
definitions I've found in dictionaries (and from my experience) they are very close in meaning (i.e. both mean "get money to pay for the
things you need to live"), but there must be some nuance I'm not getting.

Are they interchangeable?

Thank you in advance.
 

SoothingDave

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You earn your keep if someone is keeping you. Say you are living on my farm. I would expect you to do enough work around the farm to make it worthwhile for me to keep you there.
 

billmcd

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You earn your keep if someone is keeping you. Say you are living on my farm. I would expect you to do enough work around the farm to make it worthwhile for me to keep you there.

...and you earn a living by making enough money at a job to support yourself and possibly your family.
 
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