earn out

Verb

earn out (third-person singular simple present earns out, present participle earning out, simple past and past participle earned out or earnt out)

1. To qualify for a bonus or other amount of money that has been promised.
   • Such amounts are payable in succeeding years but only if earned out by the employee by continuing service to M, at the rate of Math of the amount of the first installment for each complete month of service.2006, US Independent Agencies and Commissions, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 26, Internal Revenue, Pt. 1
2. To make more money from a book than it cost to run an advertising campaign for it; to make enough in royalties to cover the advance a book received.
   • Until the total of advances in that contract has been earned out by royalties from any or all books in that contract, the author will not receive additional royalties.2014, Richard Curtis, Mastering the Business of Writing