earn my trust

USAGE SUMMARY

"earn my trust" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to gain someone's trust through certain actions or behavior. You can use this phrase when talking about building trust or when someone has betrayed your trust and needs to regain it. Example: "I will only hire someone who can earn my trust. I need to know that they are reliable and honest." "After being caught lying, it took a lot of effort for John to earn my trust back." "Building relationships takes time and effort, but the most important thing is to earn each other's trust."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But in order to earn my trust somebody must keep their word.

The New York Times

Before I'd let an author of such evident power give me the horrors, he'd have to earn my trust.

The Guardian - Books

When health and public officials insist on using only environmentally safe means to deal with this challenging situation, they will earn my trust.

The New York Times

Rather than engage me in a productive manner that would earn my trust and loyalty, he avoided me because he could not bully me".

The New York Times

I must admit that if I'm in an unfamiliar place that has yet to earn my trust, a tepid cooked meal does inject an undercurrent of unease into proceedings, as I wonder how long my food has sat around gestating germs, or if it has it been poorly reheated.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's the rest of you that have yet to earn my trust.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

His respectful handling of my 92-year-old mother had already earned my trust.

The New York Times

And I said, well, he's never earned my trust because he hadn't performed.

The New York Times

Like Levandowski's Lexus, it quickly earned my trust: keeping pace with highway traffic, braking smoothly at lights.

The New Yorker

The creators' refusal to sugarcoat the way that well-meaning advice and innocent actions can make things worse earns my trust.

The New York Times

As I flew the drone over the course of several weeks in San Francisco, it quickly earned my trust.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earn my trust" when you want to emphasize that trust must be actively gained, not passively given.

Common error

Don't assume that you automatically deserve someone's trust. "Earning trust" requires consistent actions and reliability over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn my trust" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of acquiring someone's confidence or belief. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is correct and commonly used. It emphasizes the effort required to establish a trusting relationship.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earn my trust" is grammatically sound and signifies the act of acquiring someone's confidence through demonstrated reliability and honesty. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and common usage. While examples show it appears most frequently in News & Media, its neutral register makes it suitable for various settings. To express similar ideas, alternatives like "gain my confidence" or "win my faith" can be used. It's crucial to remember that "earning trust" is an active process requiring consistent effort, challenging the assumption that trust is automatically granted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establish my trust

Stresses the creation and confirmation of trust.

merit my trust

Similar to "prove worthy", emphasizing deserving trust.

gain my confidence

Replaces "trust" with "confidence", emphasizing belief in someone's abilities.

build my confidence

Highlights the process of establishing confidence over time.

prove worthy of my trust

Adds a condition of worthiness to the act of earning trust.

win my faith

Substitutes "trust" with "faith", suggesting a deeper, more unwavering belief.

become trustworthy in my eyes

Shifts focus to the perception of trustworthiness.

secure my belief

Focuses on the act of making belief firm or certain.

demonstrate reliability to me

Highlights the importance of showing consistent and dependable behavior.

cultivate my reliance

Emphasizes the gradual development of dependence and trust.

FAQs

What does it mean to "earn my trust"?

To "earn my trust" means to gain someone's confidence and reliance through consistent honesty, reliability, and integrity. It implies that trust is not freely given but must be acquired over time by demonstrating trustworthy behavior.

How can someone "earn my trust" back after betraying it?

Regaining trust after a betrayal is difficult but possible. It involves consistent honesty, transparency, and taking responsibility for past actions. Apologies must be sincere, and actions must align with words over a sustained period to "win my faith".

Is "earn my trust" the same as "gain my trust"?

While similar, "earn my trust" implies a more active and effortful process than "gain my trust". "Earn" suggests that the person had to work to achieve that trust, while "gain" can suggest a more passive acquisition. You could also "build my confidence".

What's an example of how someone might "earn my trust" in a professional setting?

In a professional setting, someone might "earn my trust" by consistently meeting deadlines, being transparent about their work, taking responsibility for mistakes, and demonstrating a commitment to ethical behavior. They "prove worthy of my trust" through their actions.