: To "pay your dues," "earn your stripes," or "get your start". Cultural and Artistic References
: "The baby is crying because she’s cutting her first tooth". Figurative Idiom: "Cut one's teeth on" cut_a_tooth
: "She cut her journalistic teeth working for a small local newspaper". : To "pay your dues," "earn your stripes,"
As an idiom, to something means to gain your first experience or learn basic skills in a particular field, often through a specific project or job. It suggests a foundational period of learning that prepares you for more advanced work. : To "pay your dues