STEP BY STEP 英語表現1171

pay one’s dues

〈俗〉〔苦労して〕権利［地位］を得る［獲得する］；〈俗〉〔過失などの〕報いを受ける；〈俗〉刑期を務める；会費を払う〔英辞郎〕

Monica: Can you believe he just offered me a restaurant?
Rachel: What a jerk! You want me to kick his ass?
Monica: I mean this has been like my dream since I got my first Easy Bake Oven and opened Easy Monica’s Bakery. I mean I would kill for this job. I mean I can totally do this job, and God knows I paid my dues. (She removes her fake breasts) But Pete’s just doing this because he has a crush on me.
Rachel: And you’re still not attracted to him at all?
Monica: Hmm, no. I mean how can I accept a restaurant from him? I-I-I-I can’t. I couldn’t even accept a necklace from Stu Vincent in the seventh grade.
Rachel: Yeah, but Mon that’s totally different. He was you’re health teacher.
Monica: Oh, please.

– “FRIENDS” Season 3 Episode 21