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to make something worth one's while
to make something worth one's while
01
to make sure that something benefits one instead of just wasting one's time
![to [make] {sth} worth {one's} [while|time] definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/26196/original/?type=jpeg "to [make] {sth} worth {one's} [while|time] definition and meaning")
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "make something worth one's while" and when to use it?
While the exact origin of the idiom "make something worth one's while" is believed to have developed from the Old English phrase "wille," which means "desire" or "pleasure." Over time, the phrase evolved to include the word "while," which referred to a period of time. The phrase "worth one's while" began to be used in the 1800s to describe situations where someone was deciding whether or not to make an investment of time, effort, or money.
Examples
If you want me to work late, make it worth my while.
