# earn one's wings

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To prove one's worth or merit.

## Etymology
From the film It's a Wonderful Life, in which Charlie has to prove himself to earn his wings as a full-fledged angel.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/earn-one-s-wings