earn/turn an honest penny

:  to receive as return for effort and especially for work done or services rendered

:  to bring in by way of return

:  to come to be duly worthy of or entitled or suited to

:  grieve

:  to cause to move around an axis or a center :  make rotate or revolve

:  to cause to move around so as to effect a desired end (as of locking, opening, or shutting)

:  to affect or alter the functioning of (something, such as a mechanical device) or the level of (something, such as sound) by such movement

:  the action or an act of turning about a center or axis :  revolution, rotation

:  any of various rotating or pivoting movements in dancing or gymnastics

:  the action or an act of giving or taking a different direction :  change of course or posture : such as

:  free from fraud or deception :  legitimate, truthful

:  genuine, real

:  humble, plain

:  in a genuine or honest (see ¹honest) manner :  honestly

:  with all sincerity

:  a monetary unit of the United Kingdom formerly equal to ¹⁄₂₄₀ pound but now equal to ¹⁄₁₀₀ pound

:  a coin representing one penny

:  denarius